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Emma Thompson to Release “Last Christmas” Book Along with New Film

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Dame Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney) has stepped behind the camera for Last Christmas, a new holiday film starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Thompson herself, and Michelle Yeoh. As a tie-in to the film, which will additionally feature music by singer George Michael, Thompson will be releasing a book, reports Stylist.

Unlike the usual movie tie-in, the book, Last Christmas: Memories of Christmases past – and hopes for future ones, will feature essays by Thompson, Clarke, and others on their Christmas experiences. The Last Christmas book, which will be edited by Thompson and Greg Wise, will reportedly include essays by Richard Ayoade, Bill Bailey, Olivia Colman, Lyse Doucet, Deborah Frances-White, Last Christmas film director Paul Feig, Fergal Keane, Bryony Kimmings, Phyllida Law, Caitlin Moran, Sue Perkins, Sophie Thompson (Dame Emma Thompson’s sister, who also portrayed Mafalda Hopkirk), Stanley Tucci, Twiggy, Andy Serkis, and Emily Watson.

Stylist reports that proceeds from the sale of the book will go to charity, supporting both Crisis and the Refugee Council. The magazine also wrote about what readers can expect from the essays.

Essays in the book will see actors, politicians, singers, charity workers, refugees and homeless people writing about what Christmas means to them, what past Christmases have been like, what they’d change, and what they feel Christmas should be, away from the consumerism, the John Lewis advert, and the Instagram posts.

On the project, Thompson and Wise were quoted.

We are witnessing a rise in homelessness in our country, as well as in the demonisation of migrants and refugees.

There is a suspicion and fear of ‘The Other’ creeping into our nation’s dialogue, which has become front-and-centre during Brexit.

Our hope is that the movie will strike a chord with everyone who watches it, and that the book will remind people of the importance of values such as kindness and generosity.

Last Christmas: Memories of Christmases past – and hopes for future ones will be released on October 31. Last Christmas (the film) will be released on November 15.