An anticipated dramedy inspired by the true events surrounding the Women’s Liberation Movement’s disruption of the 1970 Miss World contest began principal photography on Monday, 26 November in London. The production has now announced five additional cast members joining previously confirmed leads Keira Knightley, Jessie Buckley and Gugu Mbatha‑Raw.
The film, titled Misbehaviour, centers on the dramatic intersection of a live international beauty pageant and an emergent feminist protest movement. Known as a blend of drama and comedy, the picture will explore both the cultural tensions and the human stories behind that historic evening when protesters invaded the stage during the live broadcast from London. That same contest is also remembered for crowning the first black Miss World, a milestone that added further significance to the event.
Joining Knightley, Buckley and Mbatha‑Raw are acclaimed actors Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread), Keeley Hawes (High‑Rise; The Bodyguard), Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey), Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider‑Man) and Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine). In a notable casting choice, Greg Kinnear will portray the legendary host Bob Hope, who emceed the global telecast. The ensemble brings together a mix of stage and screen veterans who will dramatize the competing perspectives present at that cultural flashpoint.
Left to right: Keeley Hawes (‘The Bodyguard’), Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man), Greg Kinnear (Same Kind of Different As Me), Phyllis Logan (‘Downton Abbey’), Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread).
The project is directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, whose recent credits include television drama and feature work noted for strong period detail and character focus. The screenplay is written by Rebecca Frayn, with reported revisions by Gaby Chiappe. This creative team signals an approach that balances historical accuracy with cinematic storytelling, aiming to capture both the political urgency and the surprising human moments of the story.
Production is being overseen by Pathé, with producers Suzanne Mackie and Sarah‑Jane Weale attached. Executive producers include Andy Harries and Rebecca Frayn from Left Bank, Jenny Borgars and Cameron McCracken from Pathé, Andrea Scarso from Ingenious, Rose Garnett from BBC Films and Natascha Wharton from the BFI. This combination of production companies and executive producers points to a film positioned for both critical attention and broad distribution.
Historically, the 1970 Miss World contest drew enormous global viewership and occupies an important place in cultural history. At the time the Women’s Liberation Movement was newly mobilized; the group’s dramatic onstage intervention brought feminist protest directly into a mainstream television moment. Filmmakers working on Misbehaviour are framing the story as more than a reenactment of a single incident: the picture intends to examine the wider social and cultural shifts the event both reflected and helped accelerate.
While casting has emphasized several well‑known names, the film’s production notes emphasize the ensemble nature of the story—portraying activists, contestants, organizers and media figures who were all part of that fraught evening. With its mix of established stars and strong supporting performers, the cast aims to create a textured, human portrait of a moment when entertainment, politics and social change collided on live television.
At the time of this announcement there is no confirmed release date for Misbehaviour. The producers and creative team have indicated that the London shoot is underway and that further casting and production updates will follow as filming progresses.