Eloise

Release poster

***Eloise*** is a 2026 American comedy film directed by Patty Jenkins from a screenplay she wrote with Linda Woolverton. Based on the Eloise series of children's books drawn and written by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight, it is the first live-action Eloise film after numerous made-for-television films and specials, and is a reboot that loosely adapts *Eloise at the Plaza*. The film stars Charlie Townsend as the title character and Helen Mirren as Nanny, and follows the pair who both live in the penthouse at the top of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The supporting cast includes Kurt Russell, Laura Harring, John Cleese, Adam Baldwin, Fiona Horsey, Moira Foot, Rachel Bloom, Lorraine Toussaint, and David Spade.

A live-action Eloise film was announced in November 2020 with Laurence Mark producing. Development began in April 2022, when Jenkins was announced as director and co-writer with Woolverton, and Townsend was cast in 2023. Filming was due to begin in October 2023 for a 2025 release, but the release was delayed to 2026 after Universal Pictures backed out of producing the film with Warner Bros. Pictures, which had provided $30 million in pre-production; Columbia Pictures replaced Universal as co-financer. The rest of the cast was announced in early 2024, with principal photography occurring primarily at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, in England and in New York City from March to July 2024.

*Eloise* premiered at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on April 5, 2026, and was released in limited theaters in the United States on April 24, 2026.

## Plot

Eloise is a fun-loving six-year-old girl with a knack for finding adventure every place she looks. While under the care of her "rawther" wonderful nanny, Eloise tries to play matchmaker to a lonely prince and wrangle an invitation to the society event of the season.

## Cast

* Charlie Townsend as Eloise
* Helen Mirren as Nanny
* Kurt Russell as Mr. Salomone
* Laura Harring as Prunella Stickler
* John Cleese as Sir Wilkes
* Adam Baldwin as Philip
* Fiona Horsey as Molly Daniels
* Moira Foot as Maggie
* Brenock O'Connor as Bill
* Gloria Ishikawa as Yuko
* Alice Mukunku as Margarita
* Rachel Bloom as Debutante Linda
* Lorraine Toussaint as Laundry Supervisor
* David Spade as Chef Morton
* Jane Seymour as Mrs. Daniels
* Carlo Conti as Wedding guest
* Tom Metcalf as Charlie, the 59th Street Doorman
* Ozuna as Assistant hotel staff

## Production

### Development

Development on a film based on the *Eloise* book series began in April 2022, when it was announced that MRC Film had signed a partnership to develop the project with Universal Pictures and with Laurence Mark as producer, but nothing came to fruition. Later on, MRC Film CEOs Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu approached Patty Jenkins to be the screenwriter. Jenkins was in post-production for another film, and took the assignment on the condition that her new partner, *Beauty and the Beast* screenwriter Linda Woolverton, also write the script. Jenkins would sign on to also direct the film in July 2022. Warner Bros. Pictures had hoped to partner with Universal on the project, having spent $30 million on pre-production. Jenkins gave a ten-minute presentation of footage, hoping they would approve filming to begin in October. Warner Bros., along with their subsidiary Cartoon Network Studios, offered to produce as long as the director found a studio that was willing to co-produce the film: Jenkins agreed and negotiated with Sony's Columbia Pictures to co-finance and distribute the film internationally by the end of October.

### Writing

Jenkins, Woolverton, Johns and Callaham were given full creative freedom in writing the film. They collaborated on the screenplay during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns of 2022–2023 and described the writing process as "open" and "free".

### Casting

Actors began testing for the roles of the Eloise characters in October 2023. On October 11, 2023, Newcomer Charlie Townsend was cast as Eloise. Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell and Laura Harring were then cast as Nanny, Mr. Salomone, and Prunella Stickler, respectively. At the month's end, John Cleese was chosen to play Sir Wilkes.

### Filming

Principal photography began in March 2024 at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Hertfordshire, England. Among the notable filming locations was New York City. The film was shot by cinematographer Matthew Jensen, on the Sony VENICE cinema cameras and Panavision Primo 70 and Primo Artiste Lenses. Filming ended in July 2024.

### Visual effects and animation

Both visual effects and animation services were provided by Framestore.

### Music

On July 12, 2025, it was announced that Patty Jenkins' recurring collaborator and music composer Hans Zimmer will compose the film's score. The album was released by WaterTower Music on April 24, having 30 tracks.

## Release

*Eloise* premiered at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on April 5, 2026, and was released in limited theaters in the United States on April 24, 2026.

## Reception

### Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 54% based on 76 reviews, with an average rating of 4.1/10. Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 44 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed at PostTrak gave it an average 3.5 out of 5 stars.

## Trivia

* Charlie Townsend (*Bugs Bunny Builders*), Rachel Bloom (*Robot Chicken* and *Close Enough*) and Lorraine Toussaint (*Summer Camp Island*) have all starred in other Cartoon Network projects.
* No actual Hotel or building was used for filming. It actually was a mock-up, including the front, made in the studio in the United Kingdom. Though it is said the mock-up was based on the Plaza Hotel in New York.
* With the participation of the Canadian Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit.
* No person or entity associated with this film received payment or anything of value or entered into any agreement, in connection with the depiction of tobacco products.

## Transcripts

### Trailer transcripts

*Main article: Eloise/Trailer transcripts*