First Pictures of David Tennant In R.D. Laing Biopic Mad To Be Normal

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A doctor in the past who specialises in saving people with the odd bit of mind-manipulation –  no, David Tennant isn’t melding together the Tenth Doctor and Kilgrave in some unholy, tonally suspect, drama series. Rather, it’s the first official images from Mad to be Normal, the biopic of psychiatrist R.D. Laing, currently filming with Tennant in the lead role.

Laing, a Scottish psychiatrist in the 60’s and 70’s whose unconventional methods – including giving his patients LSD and encouraging them to “embrace their madness” – was condemned by his peers but now, he’s praised in some circles for his sympathetic attempt to crack the minds of those who sought his help.

However, those unconventional methods led to at least two patients throwing themselves off the roof of his facility as well as raids by the drugs squad, with much of the psychiatric community disagreeing with methods and his theory that schizophrenia was a logical response to trauma (they considered it purely medical).

Speaking to Screendaily (via the Radio Times), Tennant said he has long been fascinated by the life and work of R.D. Laing.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and discover this important man and I am honoured and thrilled to be involved in telling this story,” he said. 

Writer and director Robert Mullan, who is something of an authority on Laing after publishing several books about him, will be marshalling an impressive cast, including: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Gambon, Gabriel Byrne and David Bamber (who you’ll remember played Captain Quell in  Mummy on the Orient Express).

Mad to be Normal will be released later this year.

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