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'Spencer' producer confirms film is considering British actors for Prince William role after all

Princess Diana and Prince William during a skiing holiday in Austria in 1994. (Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)
Princess Diana and Prince William during a skiing holiday in Austria in 1994. (Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

The producer of upcoming Princess Diana movie Spencer has confirmed that they will be considering British actors for the role of Prince William.

A casting call for the film shared on social media yesterday asked that only holders of European passports apply for the role of the 11-year-old prince — appearing alongside Kristen Stewart as his mother.

The notice stated that UK passport holders would not be able to take part in the movie’s German shoot early next year as a result of new rules coming into force when Brexit is formalised in the New Year.

Read more: Stewart says she feels “protective” of Diana

The film’s producer Paul Webster has stepped in to clarify the situation with a statement to Deadline.

“We’re meeting British boys all the time for this role,” he said. “If they happen to have an Irish passport, all well and good. but it’s not a hindrance to have a British passport.

Watch: Response to Kristen Stewart’s casting as Diana

“We’re not saying we need a foreigner to play Prince William. Many of our cast will be British. Some of our cast will be European to meet certain funding requirements.

“But this is an official co-production with Europe so we don’t anticipate any issue with our British cast working in Germany. There is no connection to Brexit.”

Read more: Lobbying group says Brexit could be catastrophic for film and TV

Deadline reports that there are expected to be measures in which British actors can work freely on UK-European co-productions via the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production in the aftermath of Brexit.

Notably, though, none of these measures are set in stone until the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU have been confirmed by the government.

Kristen Stewart is set to play Princess Diana in 'Spencer'. (Credit: Randy Holmes/Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty)
Kristen Stewart is set to play Princess Diana in 'Spencer'. (Credit: Randy Holmes/Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty)

Chilean director Pablo Larraín is due to helm Spencer, which will follow the princess over the course of three days as she ponders the future of her marriage to Prince Charles.

Larraín previously took a similar approach for Jackie — his movie about former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy, played by Natalie Portman.

Read more: Emma Corrin discusses Diana role in The Crown

Portman was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, so Stewart will be hoping that the director’s take on Diana — penned by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight — proves to be just as meaty.

Spencer is due to shoot in the first half of 2021 and does not yet have a confirmed release date.

Watch: Kristen Stewart says she feels protective of Diana