LIONSGATE TAKES UK DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS AND WILL HANDLE WORLDWIDE SALES
Friday 9 September, 2011. Lionsgate UK is thrilled to announce today that Oscar-winner Colin Firth has signed on to star in Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson’s adaptation of Eric Lomax’s best-selling account of his torture during the construction of the Death Railway in World War II and his mission decades later to seek revenge on his tormentor.
The Railway Man marks the first major investment from Daria Jovicic’s Latitude Media. Jonathan Teplitzky will direct. Producers are Paterson (Girl With A Pearl Earring), Chris Brown (The Proposition) and Bill Curbishley (Quadrophenia, McVicar) with Lionsgate UK’s Zygi Kamasa executive producing. The film is an Official Australia/UK co-production between Archer Street and Pictures in Paradise.
Lionsgate UK CEO Zygi Kamasa comments: “To have Colin Firth in such a compelling story as The Railway Man is a real coup for us. We’re looking forward to working with Andy, Chris, Bill and Jonathan on this epic tale of love and redemption which we think will have universal appeal for audiences around the world.”
Jonathan Teplitzky said: “The Railway Man is an amazing story and to have the chance to make it with Colin Firth as Eric is really the best gift any director could hope for.”
Paterson and Teplitzky’s current production, Burning Man, a reckless and moving upside down love story starring Matthew Goode and Bojana Novakovic, premieres as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10th.
The Railway Man will start shooting February 2012 on location in the UK, Thailand and Queensland, Australia. Transmission, who also pre-bought Burning Man, will release in Australia and New Zealand.
The film is being unveiled for sales for the first time at the Toronto International Film Festival. Lionsgate will handle worldwide sales.
Andy Paterson last worked with Colin Firth on Girl With A Pearl Earring. His previous films, including Hilary and Jackie, Restoration and Beyond The Sea have received multiple Oscar and BAFTA nominations.
Colin Firth is represented by CAA and Independent Talent. He will next be seen in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy directed by Tomas Alfredson
Chris Brown is an award-winning producer whose credits include The Company of Wolves, Mona Lisa, Dancing Through the Dark, The Proposition and Daybreakers. Based in Australia, He owns production company Pictures in Paradise in Queensland. In 2004 Brown won Independent Producer of the Year from the Australian Producers Association. He is currently executive producing BAIT 3D, being released by Paramount Pictures in February 2012.
Lionsgate UK’s upcoming slate includes Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, directed by Lasse Hallström, starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas which Lionsgate is co-producing with BBC Films and Kudos Film and Television, and Lionsgate UK’s recently announced feature version of hit TV series The Professionals which will go into production later this year and its production of The Fallen, a new contemporary sci-fi adventure project to go into production later this year.
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