After the excellent series Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack, rated 4.3 and 4.2/5 respectively by AlloCiné viewers, screenwriter Sally Wainwright opens the curtain on her latest creation, which will be discovered exclusively on Disney+. In Rebel Nell, she once again paints a nuanced portrait of a heroine who is both resilient and inspiring, brilliantly played by actress Louise Harland (Derry Girls).
This series follows the misadventures of Nell Jackson, a cunning and brave young woman who, despite herself, becomes the most notorious bandit in 18th century England after being wrongly accused of murder. With the help of a brave soul named Billy Blind, he realizes that fate did not stop him by chance.
“He’s not perfect, far from it. He is portrayed as a hero and has the potential to be one, and clearly has a heart of gold, but is flawed and very stubborn. That’s what I like about this character.” His translator tells us about this in the interview.
Forced to go on the run after the accusations against him, Nell must regularly confront those who cross his path. It is at these moments that a mysterious spirit that accompanies him intervenes, giving him almost superhuman strength and mindless ability.
“The biggest challenge for this role was finding the physical side of me and going through the grueling process it took to get there, but that’s the magic of the show: it got me to the point where I could pretend, or at least pretend. Give the impression that I can easily defeat an entire army of men. “ says Louise Harland.
Magic in the air!
After the 19th century in Gentleman Jack, Sally Wainwright goes back in time this time to 1705, bringing in a touch of magic and the supernatural. Nell Rebel is inspired by the folklore and beliefs of the time, especially the famous myth of the “Wild Hunt”. However, this does not prevent the series from discussing very relevant topics.
What’s incredible about Sally’s writing is that she can comment on social injustice, class struggle, and all these modern issues like the place of women in a man’s world, in a story set in 1705, clothed in fantastical elements. Admire Nick Mohamed (Ted Lasso) who plays Billy Blind, the spirit that helps Nell throughout the series.
Moreover, if Nick Muhammad shares all the scenes with Louise Harland on the screen, the two actors had very little opportunity to cross paths. Indeed, the actor had to shoot on a green screen, not having the ability to change size on demand, like his character, and this, a few months after the rest of the cast, was still busy filming Ted Lasso. “We trained together for one day, but were apart the rest of the time, so we’re happy the on-screen dynamic worked!”
Joining them in the cast are Frank Dylan, Alice Kremmelberg, Annie Okoronkwo, Bo Bragason, Florence Keane, Joel Richardson, Adrian Lester, Pip Torrance and Craig Parkinson. In addition to the exquisite script, Nell Rebel also counts on a great team on the production side with Ben Taylor (Sex Education, Catastrophe), Amanda Broch (Gentleman Jack) and MJ Delaney (Ted Lasso) participating.
Discover now 8 episodes of the new series Nell Rebel exclusively on Disney+.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
