<P> On 17 June 2016, it was reported that Judi Dench would play Queen Victoria (reprising her role from the 1997 film Mrs Brown) in Victoria & Abdul, a film based on the book of the same name by Shrabani Basu . Stephen Frears was set to direct . On 5 August 2016, it was announced that Ali Fazal would play Victoria's confidant Abdul Karim, while the film would be co-produced by Working Title Films and BBC Films, and co-financed by BBC and Focus Features . Focus also handles U.S. distribution rights, while Universal Pictures International handles all other countries . The script was written by Lee Hall, and the producers are Beeban Kidron, Tracey Seaward, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner, while the other cast includes Eddie Izzard, Michael Gambon, Tim Pigott - Smith, and Adeel Akhtar . </P> <P> Principal photography on the film began on 15 September 2016, at Victoria's former royal residence Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom . </P> <P> Costumes from the production were on display at Osborne House, from 24 July until 30 September 2017 . To capitalise on the renewed interest in Victoria arising from both the film and the concurrent second season of ITV's Victoria television series, the Isle of Wight Tourist Board has created a' Victoria's Island Trail' encouraging tourists to visit the key locations on the island that have connections to the Queen . </P> <P> Victoria & Abdul was released for audiences in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2017, followed by a U.S. general release on 22 September . </P>

Who plays the prime minister in victoria and abdul