Netflix recently revealed a new trailer along with some first look images for Matilda the Musical, a new take on the famous Roald Dahl story. The cast includes Dame Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull, and for the casting, the actress underwent a physical transformation. Along with facial prosthetics, Thompson also wore what’s often described as a “fat suit” under her clothing. This has sparked a renewed conversation online about the use of fat suits in movies and television, as there are many people who find it to be offensive.

“It has been really disappointing to see Emma Thompson put on a fat suit for this role,” one disappointed Thompson fan tweeted. “I’ve always loved her work. But this is just so gross.”

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Another tweeter adds, “I can’t believe someone would agree to put a thin person into this costume for Matilda the musical. The original was already fat phobic enough but now they put Emma Thompson into a fat suit.”

“STOP THIS,” says someone else. “Another actor in a fat suit coming to a movie near you. There are fat people who can act. CAST THEM if the role is for a fat character. Ugh ugh ugh.”

Many others on social media are echoing these same sentiments, but this is certainly not a one-sided debate. There are others who argue that Thompson is simply a phenomenal actress who was right for the part, while her physical transformation for the role is to make her look more like how she is described in the source material. In any case, the Matilda the Musical fat suit has generated a lot of chatter.

Netflix Reimagines Matilda With This New Reboot

     Sony Pictures/Netflix

Previously, Matilda was developed as a feature film which was directed by Danny DeVito, who also co-starred alongside Mara Wilson. This new Matilda the Musical movie is directed by Matthew Warchus and written by Dennis Kelly, though it’s based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl and the previous film. Alisha Weir plays the new Matilda Wormwood with Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull, and the cast also includes Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Sindhu Vee. You can check out the new trailer and synopsis below.

Matilda the Musical will be released this holiday season across the world excluding the UK and Ireland; Sony Pictures U.K. and Tristar Pictures will release the film in UK and Ireland exclusively in cinemas on Dec. 2, 2022.