Netflix's latest Christmas rom-com A Castle For Christmas stars Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes. Shields plays a writer named Sophie who travels to Scotland to buy a castle and meets the curmudgeonly owner Duke Myles played by Elwes. The two butt heads - but of course find something more - as they work towards an agreement. The movie premieres on Netflix on November 26.
Sheilds and Elwes spoke about the fun of making the Netflix Christmas movie, working together, and their characters.
Screen Rant: The way I felt watching this movie, it's such a feel-good rom-com. Does it feel the same way when you're making it? What was that set experience like for you?
Brooke Shields: It was everything and more. Because we were surrounded - Pat Campbell did this amazing set - so everything was real and authentically Scottish. And it was incredible. And it was a dream.
But then after we'd wrap, we would continue. We all ate dinners together and drank whiskey together and learn how to cèilidh dance and learn how to knit, and every night the knitters and I would meet up in this little pub section and drink some whiskey and knit. And my knitting came out all like this [waves hands]. But no matter. It just was everything you can imagine. I mean, when you're horseback riding, actually in that terrain and how beautiful it was, it felt as much like a fantasy as it does to watch it.
Cary, what was your favorite thing that you did while making this film, whether on set or off set?
Cary Elwes: Well, my favorite thing was getting to work with Brooke because obviously, I've been a big fan for a long time, like many people. And when I heard she was doing this movie, and I read the script, I thought how perfectly she was cast in the role of Sophie Brown. And it was an opportunity to really show her comic chops.
And the character that I play is this guy who's really kind of a hermit, a little bit of kind of like Scrooge. And he's very rigid and closed off to the world. And along comes this breath of fresh air in Brooke's character Sophie, who is open and filled with the spirit of life and love and Christmas and all of it and he's just not ready for any of it. So I was just excited when I read it. I thought, "We're really going to have a good time", and we did we made sure to have a good time.
I need you both to be like the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan of Netflix and just make like 12 rom-coms.
Brooke Shields: Sign me up.
Cary Elwes: Sign me up too.
Brooke Shields: Where's that call sheet?
People were really excited to see you two together. What is your history? I feel like this isn't the first time you've worked together.
Cary Elwes: I met Brooke many, many years ago. I met her - there was a long line of people standing in line to shake her hand at Studio 54 back in 81 I think or 82 -
Brooke Shields: I just stood at Studio 54 and shook people's hands.
Cary Elwes: Well, you know she's gone being bombarded. She was bombarded wherever she went. There was always a light on her wherever she went. And I remember being so excited to meet her because I was obviously a big fan.
And then when I heard that I was actually going to get to work with her I thought, "Oh gosh, where do I sign on? This is going to be perfect" because I was such a fan of her work and her comedy and this role was perfect for her to showcase all of that.
And I hadn't done a rom-com since The Princess Bride. I thought, "What perfect one to do after all these years [with] Brooke Shields."
Brooke Shields: It was an honor for us to have him say yes. You have to set your sights hopefully high and then always have to go, "Well we'll have a second list" and so when he said yes it was just so refreshing to know that we could do this together and that he trusted us to do a rom-com after so many years.
It was important for me to have him be very comfortable. He brought to the character of Myles so much, not just history but layers. And they were the layers that Sophie has to sort of choose a lat you know, to get to what she knows is a beautiful heart but what he's tried to protect for too long.
A Castle For Christmas is now available to stream on Netflix.