<P> On 9 August 2012, it was announced that Saoirse Ronan would play the title role of Mary Stuart . On 21 April 2017, Margot Robbie was cast to play Queen Elizabeth I, and that the film was scheduled to commence principal photography in August 2017 . The film based on John Guy's biography My Heart Is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots would be produced by Working Title's Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Debra Hayward . Josie Rourke was announced to direct the film from an adapted screenplay by Beau Willimon . On 13 June 2017, Jack Lowden was announced to play Lord Darnley, while Joe Alwyn was announced to play Robert Dudley . On 22 June 2017, it was reported that Martin Compston was cast in the film to play James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Stuart . On 23 June 2017, German - Romanian actress Maria - Victoria Dragus had also joined the cast to play Scottish noblewoman and childhood friend of Stuart, Mary Fleming, marking her English - language debut . On 17 August 2017, Brendan Coyle, David Tennant, and Guy Pearce joined the cast . On 18 August 2017, Gemma Chan joined the cast . On 22 August 2017, Ismael Cruz Córdova was cast to play David Rizzio, Mary's close friend and confidant . </P> <P> Focus Features will handle the domestic rights while Universal Pictures will handle the international distribution . The crew on the film includes Academy Award winners costume designer Alexandra Byrne, hair and make - up designer Jenny Shircore and editor Chris Dickens; Emmy award - winning production designer James Merifield; and BAFTA award - winning director of photography John Mathieson . </P> <P> Principal photography began on the 17th August 2017, in various locations around the UK, including Scotland . </P> <P> It will have its world premiere at the closing night gala of AFI Fest on 15 November 2018 . The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on 7 December 2018, and in the United Kingdom on 18 January 2019 . </P>

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