Helen Mirren to Join Russell Brand in Arthur Remake

Helen Mirren will play Hobson to Russell Brand’s Arthur in Warner Bros.’ remake of the 1981 comedy of the same, according to a report in Variety. Jason Winer is directing the movie.

Mirren is assuming the role of the title character’s employee and confidante, originally played by Sir John Gielgud. In the original, Arthur turned to Hobson for advice after his family threatened to cut off his inheritance if he did not marry a woman he didn’t love.

Mirren won the Academy Award for Best Actress, along with a Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG and numerous other awards, for her performance in Stephen Frears’ The Queen. Her most recent screen appearance, The Last Station, earned her a fourth Oscar nomination. The actress was most recently seen on stage in Racine’s Phedre, a role which she played in London and Washington, D.C. Among Mirren’s other upcoming films are Julie Taymor’s film treatment of The Tempest and the thriller Red.