British icon Jennifer Saunders has joined the star-studded cast of the film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s popular children’s book. The magical faraway tree.

Hiran Abeysekera (The life of Pi, The father and the murderer) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (Gangs of London, See how they run, Chloe) will also star alongside the previously announced cast of Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan and Jessica Gunning.

From Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group and Ashland Hill Media Finance, The magical faraway tree is currently being filmed.

Based on Far away tree The film is part of a series of children’s novels and is about Polly (Foy) and Tim Thompson (Garfield) and their children Beth, Joe and Fran, who are forced to move to the remote English countryside. “There the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric inhabitants,” says a summary of the plot.

Saunders (Absolutely fantastic, Shrek2) has been cast in the role of the children’s ruthless grandmother. Laurence Olivier Award winner Abeysekera will star as the angry elf, one of the forest’s magical inhabitants, and Bennett-Warner will play grandmother’s assistant Hannah.

The Thompson children are played by newcomers Delilah Bennett-Cardy (ITVs Tom JonesRSCs Macbeth), Billie Gadsdon (Cruella, Once) and Phoenix Laroche (The plush rabbit, Attempt).

“Just when we thought our cast couldn’t get any more exciting, we’ve been joined by these incredibly talented actors,” said producer Pippa Harris. “I know they will bring wit, wonder and warmth to their performances and we’re delighted to have them join us on this magical adventure.”

British icons Sir Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale have also been confirmed and will play “a trio of mystical sages from the land of know-it-alls”.

Adapted by Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2), directed by Ben Gregor (Britannia, cuckoo, BlackOps, fatherhood). Release details have yet to be announced.