Edmund the Magnificent: David Bradley and Ian McKellen Bring a Pig's Tale to Life

There are a number of popular stories about pigs, most notably Charlotte’s Web, The Tale of Pigling Bland and Babe (we could throw in Animal Farm for good measure, but maybe that would spoil the mood).  There’s even the Three Little Pigs, if you want to explore the murkier depths of your childhood. So, here’s another one for your collection - Edmund the Magnificent.

This short film (rather gleefully narrated by Sir Ian McKellan) stars David Bradley (Argus Filch in the Harry Potter, Walder Frey in Game of Thrones not to mention The Doctor in Adventures in Time and Space) as a farmer who wants to revitalise his failing farm.  He buys a piglet from a local breeder (Mark Bonnar - Doctor Who, Shetland, Line of Duty, Guilt) and rears him to become the saviour of the farm – a new champion boar.

This pig gets spoiled in a way that Charlotte's Web's Wilbur could only dream of. When Edmund reaches maturity, he is introduced to a lady pig but there is no Discovery Channel action between the two of them.  Almost by chance, the farmer discovers that Edmund is in fact a card-carrying member of the rainbow club.  With no chance of piglets, the farmer falls into despair and must not only confront his farm’s imminent closure, but events from the past that ha has kept buried for years. If this all sounds a little depressing, fear not. This story has a happy ending – but I will leave you to discover how it resolves for yourself.  Needless to say, I hope it leaves you with a smile on your face.

Watch Edmund the Magnificent below: