A Cherry Upgrade for That Cake, Hats Fly in a Forest + More in Netflix's Matilda Trailer

(SPOT.ph) Whether you're a fan of Roald Dahl, the 1996 film adaptation directed by Danny Devito, or the 2011 West End musical adaptation by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin, you were probably just as excited as we were when you learned that Netflix is coming out with a movie musical of Matilda this 2022, as directed by Matthew Warchus. Heck, as if we weren't already excited enough: turns out Emma Thompson is playing the scary Miss Trunchbull.

Well, here's more reason for jaws to drop. The first teaser dropped on June 15, which just left us hungry for more; Netflix has finally let us in on a whole lot more with a new (and longer) trailer released on the evening of October 13. We list down the most exciting bits from the trailer below. Did you recognize Thompson? 

Here's what instantly caught our attention from the trailer of the upcoming Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (feelings included):

The Hot Air Balloon

The first few seconds of the trailer open with a dreamy scene where Matilda (Alisha Weir) is daydreaming in a hammock inside a yellow-and-blue-hued hot air balloon. The first few notes of "When I Grow Up" play and we remember that astounding swing scene from the stage musical. (Yes, that international production at The Theatre at Solaire which was canceled after just a week--because of the COVID lockdown in March 2020.)

The Best Teacher Ever, Miss Jennifer Honey

Played by Lashana Lynch, Miss Honey is Matilda's favorite teacher who serves as our little girl's protector and confidante. Netflix' casting seems to be spot on as we would have wanted this portrayal of Miss Honey to be with us during our younger years. That split-second scene of them holding hands while looking at the clouds is just heartwarming.

Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood's Splash of Colors

Being based on Kelly and Minchin's Tony Award-winning piece, this version of Matilda highlights the colorful attire and hair of Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood (Stephan Graham and Andrea Riseborough). We still hate them as parents, but Mrs. Wormwood's jumpsuit is too retro to ignore.

Flying Hats and Cups

What's great about filmmaking is that special effects are more than possible. And director Matthew Warchus takes advantage of that in the 2022 adaptation, especially since Matilda's powers are special. (Not-so-spoiler alert: She makes things move with her mind.) In the trailer, we see a floating hat with a road lined with trees in the background.

First Day of School

While Miss Trunchbull is already horrifying, her school's structure and vibe seem to be something from a horror movie. "This isn't a school. It's prison," says Bruce Bogtrotter (Charlie Hodson-Prior) at the 0:48 mark. The students start to sing "School Song" complete with the scaffolding reminiscent of the West End musical.

The Revolting Children are Revolting

Speaking of the students, the "Revolting Children" number is more glorious than ever in this trailer. Bogtrotter's infamous chocolate cake also gets some extra cherries. This is matched by the pink lights as the tables around him literally go round and round.

Matilda's Revenge Scene

At the end of the trailer, we see how Matilda makes an anthropomorphic monster out of chains to scare away Miss Trunchbull. Sure, it could just be a few chains floating here and there, but this adaptation adds extra spice.

Watch the full trailer of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical here:

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical drops on Netflix on December 25.