Wonderwell

Wonderwell is a 2023 Italian-American fantasy film directed by Vlad Marsavin, produced by Fred Roos, and based on the short story "Drainhole Dreaming" by William Brookfield. It stars Carrie Fisher (in her final film role before her death in 2016), Rita Ora, Kiera Milward, and Nell Tiger Free.

Synopsis
At 12 years old, Violet (Kiera Milward) lives in Italy with her parents (Lloyd Owen and Megan Dodds) and her beautiful older sister Savannah (Nell Tiger Free). When she is selected to be the face of world-renowned designer Yana’s (Rita Ora) fashion label, the family travels to an enchanting medieval village for her first photo shoot. Neglected and bored, Violet wanders from the ancient Tuscan town into a nearby forest where she meets the enigmatic Hazel (Carrie Fisher), who may be the fabled witch of the woods Violet was warned about by Yana’s beleaguered stepson, Daniele (Sebastian Croft). Guided by Hazel to a mysterious portal, Violet is offered a glimpse of what her future might hold, but like the transition from childhood to womanhood, it may be a journey of no return.

Cast

 * Carrie Fisher as Hazel
 * Rita Ora as Yana
 * Kiera Milward as Violet
 * Nell Tiger Free as Savannah
 * Sebastian Croft as Daniele
 * Vincent Spano as Franco
 * Megan Dodds as Chlo
 * Lloyd Owen as Adam
 * Niccolo Besio as Enrico

Production
Principal photography took place in Tuscany and in Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Italy between October 2016 and February 2017. Several scenes were shot in ancient Etruscan towns San Gimigniano and Volterra. Veteran producer Fred Roos, known for his lifelong collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola, brought Fisher, Ora and a number of the key creative team to the project. Fisher, who passed away in late 2016, just six weeks after wrapping her scenes, leads the cast alongside British singer and actress Rita Ora and newcomer Kiera Milward.

The film's score, composed by William Ross, was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The late Angelo Badalamenti, known for his collaborations with David Lynch on projects including Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, composed the film's "Violet’s Theme". One of the film's central characters, The Creature, was inspired by Cel, the Etruscan goddess of the Mother Earth and designed by art director Daniele Auber, known for his works for Terry Gilliam and Luc Besson.

Due to interruptions with funding, post-production was extended until early 2020, and then, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, all work on the almost finished film was suspended for several months.

Release
On June 14, 2023, Deadline Hollywood has announced that Vertical acquired North American, UK, and Ireland rights to the film and published an announcement of the film's release, and on June 16, 2023, it published the official theatrical poster and first official trailer. The film had a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and also appeared on all online platforms on June 23, 2023.

Wonderwell was also released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia and the Benelux countries on November 24, 2023, by Splendid Film.

Reception
The release of the last Carrie Fisher film was welcomed with enthusiasm by her fans and by fans of the fantasy genre.

Benjamin Lee of The Guardian gave the film one out of five stars, deeming it "a rather limp, confusing little fantasy that could have been left gathering even more dust on the shelf without anyone needing to know".

Independent blogger Mike Haberfelner called Wonderwell "a visually stunning film, full of impressive set designs", "a mix of coming-of-age story, dark fairy tale and thriller, in which well fleshed-out characters are embodied by a relatable ensemble cast, making this a pretty cool and pretty unusual ride."

WORLDFILMGEEK portal said that “Wonderwell is a terrific and emotionally charged fantasy film that closes the book of a Hollywood icon. Carrie Fisher’s final performance is a wonderful delight to see as someone who not only loves the work but brings that iconic off-screen personality to the screens. We still miss Carrie Fisher, but there couldn’t be a better sendoff than this film.”