Starring alongside Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz in the forthcoming Queen Anne biopic 'The Favourite' is the newly announced Nicholas Hoult. The film explores the life of the 18th century monarch, from her numerous ill-fated pregnancies to her dealings with the country's first two-party government.

Emma StoneEmma Stone is set to star in 'The Favourite'

Directed by the Academy Award nominated Yorgos Lanthimos ('The Lobster', 'Dogtooth') and written by Tony McNamara ('Doctor Doctor', 'Ashby') and Deborah Davis in her screenwriting debut, 'The Favourite' explores the short reign of Queen Anne between 1702 and 1714 which saw the union of England and Scotland and subsequent creation of Great Britain. 

She was the last of the House of Stuarts to take the throne, and despite the major changes that the country saw during her time as Queen, her life was wrought with the tragedy of seven miscarriages, five stillborn babies, two children who died soon after birth, two who died less than a year after birth and one who lived barely more than a year. She died at the age of 49 after months of suffering from an unknown illness.

'Broadchurch' star Olivia Colman stars as Queen Anne in the period drama. Emma Stone plays Abigail Masham, Baroness Masham in the movie, while Rachel Weisz is her cousin Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough and Nicholas Hoult takes the role of Tory party leader Robert Harley.

Olivia is currently filming 'Murder on the Orient Express' while Rachel is shooting Jewish drama 'Disobedience' with Rachel McAdams. The latter also has two movies expected to be released this year; James Marsh's 'The Mercy' and period romance 'My Cousin Rachel'; and she will star alongside Sylvester Stallone in mob thriller 'Idol's Eye'.

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Meanwhile, Emma Stone (who has just won the Academy Award for Best Actress following her appearance in 'La La Land') is set to play Billie Jean King in tennis biopic 'Battle of the Sexes' and Cruella de Vil in the live action '101 Dalmations' adaptation 'Cruella'. Nicholas Hoult has recently finished filming 'The Current War' in which he stars opposite Benedict Cumberbatch as Nikola Tesla, and he is set to appear in 'Rebel in the Rye' as J.D. Salinger later this year.

'The Favourite' is set to be released sometime in 2018.