I’m very excited to bring you this week’s BEHIND THE LENS Radio Show and my exclusive conversation with director BEN GREGOR talking about THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE, a film, like the book on which it’s based, that keeps the child inside of us alive with fun and fantasy and good storytelling that speaks to family, imagination, and risk that is a shared language to us all. I’ve been under embargo on this one until today, and I’m so happy I can bring you this fun and interesting interview.
Adapted from Enid Blyton’s beloved classic novel THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE, the film centers on Polly, Tim, and their three children – Fran, Beth, and Joe – a modern family forced to relocate to the remote and rustic English countryside due to financial difficulties. As they adapt to their new lives with no electricity and no wifi and none of the modern conveniences they were used to, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including treasured characters Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot, Saucepan Man, Mr. Watzisname and Oom Boom Boom. At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular, fantastical lands like the Land of Goodies, the Land of Birthdays, the Land of Back to Front, the Land of Knowalls, and through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learns to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.
Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby based on Enid Blyton’s novel of the same name, THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nonso Anozie, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Jennifer Saunders, Rebecca Ferguson, Dustin Demri-Burns, Oliver Chris, Mark Heap, and more. The real magic and wonder and fun of THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE comes courtesy of the incredible crafts artisans who bring the worlds of THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE to life – cinematographer Zac Nicholson, editor Gary Dollner, production designer Alexandra Walker, art directors Janet Harwood, Hannah Moseley and Jo Riddell, composer Isabella Summers, and costume designer Ann Maskrey whose work here is truly award-worthy.
It was a joy to speak with director BEN GREGOR about THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE, as we examined the adaptation of such a beloved book that is both freeing and freewheeling, and how to steep the movie world in Blytopia. A frothy, light, pure delight with serious crafts, Ben highlights the film’s fanciful and imaginative elements, particularly the importance of staying true to Enid Blyton’s source material while adding creative touches as he described the meticulous set design, not the least of which includes the edible sets and the absence of plastic in “Blytopia”.
As we keep climbing up THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE and all of its utterly enchanting, fanciful, kooky fun, we take a look at elements of scale, the use and design of practical effects, Zac Nicholson’s gorgeous cinematography and the use of color and contrast between the faraway worlds and the real world. When it comes to Gary Dollner’s editing, it is beautiful and seamless on every level, delivering some exquisite montage sequences. And the work of Zac and Gary beautifully showcases the creativity and magic that comes from Alexandra Walker’s production design, the art direction, Ann Maskrey’s costuming, and the fanciful hair and make-up.
As Ben explains, an interesting aspect of this production is that it required they invent new techniques to achieve Ben’s desired result. Everything had to be found, salvaged, made or created in-house with a “Swiss Family Robinson” ingenuity. Real world machinery (like a big drilling screw) echoed fantasy inventions. On every level, the fantasy world is mirrored in the real world, underlining the power of inspiration and imagination. Striving for authentic wonder and adventure so that reactions, particularly of the kids, would be genuinely gobsmacked, everything was grounded in a world you could touch and taste. They even created their own visual effects company to handle what VFX they did use. But Ben is quick to stress, and does so several times, that this is an independent, handcrafted production that leans into physicality and tactility rather than relying on digital shortcuts.
Discussing his key philosophies in making the film, Ben expounds on his thoughts on collaboration, the power of the words “I don’t know”, and creating an environment where people’s first drafts actually ended up in the film.
As we tie in elements of THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE with its nods to other fantasy worlds like Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Narnia, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings where village life naturally tips over into fantasy, one of the most wonderful homages within the film is to The Wizard of Oz with a key scene that may find you reaching for tissues. And all of this talk of fantasy gives rise to some wonderful anecdotes from Ben, particularly one involving his own childhood and Roald Dahl!
So sit back, relax, and take a listen as director BEN GREGOR talks about the fantastically wonderful and delightful THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE…..
Enjoy!
THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE is in U.S. theatres nationwide on August 21, 2026.
