Mark Gatiss Returns to Direct New Edition of ‘A Christmas Ghost Story’
The BBC’s yearly ‘A Ghost Story for Christmas’ series, which features a selection of spooky movies that are ideal for the holiday season, is returning. Variety reports that Mark Gatiss will helm this year’s instalment, ‘Woman of Stone’, which is based on the story ‘Man-Size in Marble’ by E. Nesbit. After directing ‘Lot No. 249’, which was based on a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story, last year, Gatiss is making a comeback to the series. In addition to his skill as a director, Gatiss is well-known for his role as Mycroft Holmes in the BBC series ‘Sherlock’.
‘A Ghost Story for Christmas’ 2024 centres on Jack (Eanna Hardwicke) and Laura (Phoebe Horn), a Victorian couple who settle into a charming cottage in a sleepy village. Eerie warnings from Mrs Dorman, their housekeeper, and the terrifying story of two marble knights who are supposed to rise from their tombs on Christmas Eve quickly disrupt their tranquil existence. Jack rejects the story as superstitious, but as night falls, he is forced to go to church, leaving Laura alone at home.
Image Courtesy: Collider
The adaptation has been retitled ‘Woman of Stone’ by Gatiss, a moniker that might allude to the sinister turns that await the relationship. It’s evident that Gatiss has put his all into this production, even though the plot’s direction won’t be known until it’s released. After giving the concept some thought, Gatiss told Variety:
In ‘Man-Size in Marble,’ which was adapted from ‘Woman of Stone’ by E. Nesbit, Mark Gatiss claims to have first encountered a ghost story. He expressed his satisfaction with the result, saying he had always wanted to bring this story to life. Gatiss said he was pleased to pay tribute to the talented but often overlooked author Edith Nesbit. Additionally, he praised the exceptional cast and crew for their diligent efforts in delivering some seasonal shivers to the audience.
Image Courtesy: Collider
In his last adaption, ‘Lot No. 249’, a 2023 production that starred Kit Harington as a student discovering a homicidal, resurrected mummy at Oxford, Gatiss’ love of classic horror and suspense was on full display. Gatiss’s skill at telling spine-tingling stories will undoubtedly enthral audiences once more with ‘Woman of Stone’. With its international release and BBC premiere, the film will tell its terrifying story to audiences all around the world.
–Farheen Ali