Anthony Hopkins and Charlotte Rampling are set to headline The Species, a new period drama from The Other Boleyn Girl director Justin Chadwick. The film will see the acclaimed actors portraying Charles and Emma Darwin, exploring their enduring relationship against the backdrop of Victorian England.

Written by Jacob Killion, The Species also stars Tom Hollander as publisher Marshall Winwick and Billy Howle as the Darwins’ son, George. The film follows Emma, who, after the death of her husband Charles, embarks on a journey of self-discovery while wrestling with questions of love, loss, and faith. As she faces mounting pressure from her son and a persistent publisher over the release of Charles’ autobiography, Emma must reconcile her devotion to her late husband with her fear that his atheist views could jeopardise their reunion in the afterlife.

According to the official synopsis, the story intertwines Emma’s grief with moments of spiritual connection, as she finds solace and unexpected companionship in the lingering presence of Charles’ spirit, their warmth, humour, and shared debates painting an intimate portrait of a marriage that defies time and mortality.

The film is being produced by Christian Taylor of Taylor Lane Productions, Mary Aloe of Aloe Entertainment, and Joshua Harris of Peachtree Media Group. Production is set to begin in June 2026 in Northern Ireland, with Adolpho Veloso (Train Dreams) serving as cinematographer and Eyde Belasco handling casting duties.