Kristen Stewart will play Princess Diana in new movie ‘Spencer’

A new film spanning a key weekend in Princess Diana’s life has found its leading lady – and the choice of A-lister is wildly unexpected.

A controversial choice to play Princess Diana in a new movie on the late royals’ life has caused plenty of raised eyebrows in Hollywood.

Kristen Stewart will take on the role of the Princess of Wales in the new movie Spencer, according to Deadline.

The drama, whose title refers to Lady Di’s surname before marriage, will take place over three days during the 1990s as Diana has second thoughts about her rocky marriage to Prince Charles.

Stewart, 30, is six years younger than Diana was when she got divorced in 1996. The princess died in a Paris car crash in 1997, and the film will not cover her tragic death.

Stewart has reportedly been cast as Diana.

The film will span a significant two-day period in Diana’s life. Picture: David Levenson/Getty Images

Directed by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín (Jackie), Spencer plans to begin production in early 2021.

The reaction to news of Stewart’s casting wasn’t exactly favourable on social media.

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana still doesnt sit right with me pic.twitter.com/7yPK2tRSbC

— 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗮 (@cinnamonrxlls) June 17, 2020

Big Kristen Stewart fan (my gf can never understand why 👀)
But no, so many better options for Diana. https://t.co/G8sPfv9xmo

— Jon (@JTedders92) June 17, 2020

KRISTEN STEWART IS GONNA PLAY PRINCESS DI??????

— marika ✿ BLM ✿ ACAB (@codenamemar) June 17, 2020

i really love kristen stewart (sometimes you need a bit of beige in your life don’t come for me) but casting her as princess diana is a joke

— BLM (@cinderemma__) June 17, 2020

Is anyone else confused by Kristen Stewart supposedly being cast as Princess Diana or is it just me?

— Charlotte ✨🌻 (@CharlCharles_) June 17, 2020

kristen stewart portraying di genuinely feels like an insult lol

— spinny (@TheSuperSpinD) June 17, 2020

Kristen Stewart is playing Princess Di? No, just no. pic.twitter.com/a5Tpgjmwsy

— Kayla Vetter (@KVetter87) June 17, 2020

Jeez. Why not just cast Camilla Parker Bowles to pay Princess Di. That might be less offensive than Kristen Stewart

— Danielle Cashat (@daniellecashat) June 17, 2020

Princess Di was so many things. I'm not so sure Kristen Stewart can encompass that smh

— Thirstraps Porzingis (@BoycottLex) June 17, 2020

Another user pointed out: “There are dozens of British actors that would be much more suitable. What are they thinking? I suspect that this one might get reversed.”

Princess Diana will be portrayed on-screen a lot in the coming years. Newcomer Emma Corrin has been cast as Di in the upcoming season four of Netflix’s The Crown, which will likely be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, pictures of Corrin in character as Diana have already surfaced from the set, showing the young actress bearing a striking resemblance to the late royal.

Earlier this year, Corrin, 24, was photographed in Manchester wearing a dress similar to the Victor Edelstein gown that the Princess of Wales wore nearly 30 years ago when she attended an event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on February 3, 1989.

The actress also donned a blonde wig styled to channel one of Diana’s signature hairdos.

The young actress bears a striking resemblance to the Princess of Wales.

Diana arriving at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1989.

This article originally appeared in the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.