Charlie Heaton is set to star in ‘The Elephant Man’.
The ‘Stranger Things’ actor will play Joseph Merrick, a man whose disfigurements from a combination of rare diseases caused him to end up being displayed in Victorian freak shows, in a new BBC One biography.
Charlie said: "This is such a special role and a challenge for any actor. Joseph has such an incredible story and I can’t wait to bring him to life."
A source told to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "Other interpretations have focused on Joseph in adulthood, but this will take you right back to his childhood and outline just how tragic his life really was.
"It offers a broader understanding of how he came to be the source of so much intrigue, as well as a target for cruel people who wanted to exploit him to make themselves money."
The BBC’s adaption of ‘The Elephant Man’ will be a two-part biography, and it is due to begin filming in Wales later this year, after filming for series three of ‘Stranger Things’ is complete.
Joseph was born in Leicester in 1862 and went on to perform for people on stage under the act name of ‘Elephant Man, Half-a-Man and Half-an-Elephant’.
Later, he met Frederick Treves, who took him to London Hospital to live, raising funds from well-wishers.
Joseph passed away in 1890 at the age of 27 and while no name was given to his condition when he was still alive, it is now believed that he suffered from Proteus syndrome, which is characterised by the overgrowth of the bones, tissue and skin.
Charlie Heaton to star in The Elephant Man
