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World War II was humanity's darkest hour. On-screen, there are hundreds of movies with varying depictions that have been made about the war. Steven Spielberg went for large-scale battles in the blockbuster Saving Private Ryan, showing us heroism and how our sophisticated civilization came to haunt us. Roman Polanski's Oscar winner The Pianist chose to personalize the horrors of the war, particularly the Holocaust. However, not every story has been told. While there has been a decline in the production of World War II movies, newer angles are finding their place on the big screen. One such is Martin Zandvliet's 2015 Oscar-nominated film Land of Mine.

Exclusive: Danish actor Roland Møller (Citadel) has landed the lead villain role opposite Jason Statham and Annabelle Wallis in Lionsgate’s action-thriller Mutiny. Others newly aboard for key roles are Arnas Fedaravičius (The White Lotus) and Adrian Lester (The Sandman).

In Mutiny, which has just wrapped production in the UK and Malta, after his billionaire industrialist boss is murdered in front of him, Cole Reed is set up to take the fall for the crime — leaving him on the run as he works to uncover an international conspiracy. Further character details for today’s new trio of cast members weren’t disclosed.

Jean-François Richet is directing from a script by Lindsay Michel and J.P. Davis, his collaborator on the recent Lionsgate action thriller Plane starring Gerard Butler and Mike Colter. Statham and his newly minted production company Punch Palace Productions are producing alongside Marc Butan under his MadRiver Pictures banner,...

War has been, and always will be, a stain on humanity. A cross we, as an eight billion-strong and growing civilization, will forever bear. Upon reflection, these murderous conflicts are frequently glamorized, with Hollywood and the wider film industry adopting the propensity to glorify these barbaric, life-altering events. Valor, honor, patriotism, and heroism are all qualities many a war flick has been constructed on or around, further honing in on the positive tales of those unfortunate enough to be involved.

Land of Mine Release Date December 3, 2015 Director Martin Zandvliet Cast Roland Mller , Louis Hofmann , Joel Basman , Mikkel Boe Flsgaard , Laura Bro Rating R Runtime 1hr 40min Main Genre War See More-->

Every so often, filmmakers will deviate from these familiar stories of death-defying bravery and address the true reality of war, the mass dealing in human life, the horrifying bloodshed, and the traumatic impact it had on those forced to...

Bär worked on ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ and contributed to ‘Tar’.

German casting director Simone Bär has died aged 57 in Berlin. She died on January 16, with the cause of death yet to be revealed.

Bär’s latest projects included Edward Berger’s German Netflix feature All Quiet On The Western Front – nominated for nine Oscars and 14 Baftas. She also contributed to Todd Field’s six-time Oscar nominated and five-time Bafta nominated Tar, with a location casting credit.

On the international circuit, Bär worked on Stephen Daldry’s The Reader, Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, Steven Spielberg’s War Horse,...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced plans Wednesday for 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres spanning a total of 43 countries throughout the 11-day event.

“At a time where there’s a dwindling of movie theater attendance, the role of film festivals has never been more important,” said Sbiff executive director Roger Durling. “At Sbiff, with the 38th edition, our marching orders are clear, to celebrate movies and to nurture and exalt the film community, the artists as well as the cinephiles. It’s a great slate with 43 countries represented.”

The festival starts Feb. 8 with the world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” from director-producer Michelle Danner. The period piece is set in the year 1963 and documents the true story of Patricia “Trish” Weir (Abigal Breslin), who attempts to put her abuser behind bars after being kidnapped and sexually assaulted at 18 years old.

Director Chandler Levack’s “I Like Movies” will...

The 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will run Feb. 8-18, will open with Miranda’s Victim, one of 52 world premieres in this year’s lineup, and will close with the U.S. premiere of I Like Movies, one of 78 U.S. premieres, the fest announced Wednesday.

These are, of course, in addition to a slew of the career-retrospective tributes for which the fest is famous, which this year will celebrate the likes of Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, as well as panels with breakthrough artists, artisans, directors, writers, producers, female creatives and international filmmakers.

The fest will also offer a variety of free educational programs, including Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies (for 4,000-plus fourth through sixth grade students from low-income schools throughout Santa Barbara County), which this year will feature a screening of Guillermo del Toro...

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has today unveiled the lineup for its 38th edition, taking place in-person from February 8-18.

The festival will open with the world premiere of the courtroom drama Miranda’s Victim, from director Michelle Danner. Pic tells the true story of Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda. Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Donald Sutherland, Mireille Enos, Andy Garcia and more also star.

Closing out Sbiff 2023 is the Chandler Levack-directed I Like Movies, which makes its U.S. premiere. The film starring Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo, Krista Bridges and Percy Hynes White follows the socially inept, 17-year-old cinephile Lawrence (Lehtinen) as he gets a job at a video store, there forming a complicated...

TrustNordisk has snapped up international sales rights to the new Danish crime thriller “Boundless,” based on fiction guru Jussi Adler-Olsen’s “Den Grænseløse,” his sixth novel in the Department Q series.

Danish helmer Ole Christian Madsen, credited for the HBO series “Banshee” (2013-16) and WWII drama “Flame & Citron” starring Mads Mikkelsen, has taken up the challenge of bringing Adler-Olsen’s suspenseful universe to the silver screens, working from a script by Jakob Weis.

Christian Madsen will reunite with his “Banshee” actor Ulrich Thomsen. The latter reprises the role of detective Carl Mørck, which he played in Nordisk Film Production’s previous Department Q film version, “The Marco Effect”.

The helmer said he has “a profound respect for the world built in Adler-Olsen’s novels, that he finds both “intriguing and fascinating.” “I do believe ‘Boundless’ the movie could expand that world even more,” he asserted.

In this new thriller,...

2021 was another annus horribilis for cinemagoing in the Nordics, due to on-going and strict Covid restrictions that halved admissions compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Released late September/early October when cinemas for once ran at full capacity, “No Time to Die” literally saved the film year, and even ranked No. 1 among all James Bond movies ever released in Denmark.

Aside from Sweden, strong homegrown offers such as “Checkered Ninja 2” in Denmark, “Class Reunion 3” in Finland, “Cop Secret” in Iceland, “Three Wishes for Cinderella” in Norway enabled the Nordic nations to secure bullish market shares.

Denmark

In 2021, “No Time to Die” smashed all B.O. records for a James Bond movie in Denmark. That, however, didn’t prevent overall ticket sales from plummeting 45% from 2019, due to the pandemic.

The Danish film year opened and ended with closed cinemas, and faced a record 138 days of full cinema lockdown, according to the cinema association Danske biografer.

Louis Hofmann is set as the male lead opposite Aria Mia Loberti in Netflix’s All The Light We Cannot See, a four-part limited series adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller, from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight. Also cast in the series Lars Eidinger and newcomer Nell Sutton.

Loberti, who is blind, plays Marie-Laure, the blind teenager at the heart of the story, whose path collides with Werner (Hofmann), a German soldier, as they both try to survive the devastation of World War II in occupied France.

Hofmann’s Werner is a quietly pensive, handsome young German soldier who gets swept up in the brutality of war. Soulful, poetic and honorable with leading man looks, he has a strong moral compass in a complicated world.

Eidinger plays Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel, a cruel, terminally ill Nazi officer who spends...

Diane Kruger and Ray Nicholson are set to star in a new thriller from writer-director Neil Labute, titled “Out of the Blue.”

The filmmaker behind “The Wicker Man” and “In the Company of Men” will bring the stars together this week in Rhode Island for principal photography on the feature, billed as a contemporary tale of passionate love, deceit and the perfect murder.

Nicholson (“Promising Young Woman”) plays Connor, a man whose dull life is transformed into a thrilling fantasy world thanks to the seductive Marilyn (Kruger). He plunges headlong into the adulterous affair; the ex-con with a heart of gold seemingly destined for the raven-haired trophy wife. The only hitch in their idyllic new life together? Marilyn’s trapped in a nightmare with an abusive husband and vulnerable stepdaughter. Desperate and with a history of violence, Connor will do almost anything to see him dead.

Quiver Distribution announced the film on Monday.

The Norwegian comedy-drama premiered at Berlinale’s Generation 14plus.

TrustNordisk has closed a slew of new deals on Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Norwegian festival hit Ninjababy.

Deals have been done for the US (Soro Films), Canada (Mongrel Media), the UK and Ireland (Curzon Artificial Eye), France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Germany (Koch Films), Austria (Filmladen) and Switzerland (Xenix).

The film previously sold to Lithuania (Scanorama); Taiwan (CatchPlay); and Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia (Cinemania Group).

The Norwegian comedy-drama premiered at Berlinale’s Generation 14plus and then won the audience award in SXSW’s Global section.

TrustNordisk has lined up a series of major European territories for its new Danish thriller, The Marco Effect from Oscar-nominated director Martin Zandvliet (Land of Mine), inking deals with Koch Films for Germany and Austria and with Movies Inspired for Italian rights.

TrustNordisk is screening the film, part of the hit Department Q franchise of crime thrillers, for international buyers at the Virtual Cannes Market this week. The Marco Effect has already pre-sold to several territories, including France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Spain (Vertigo Films), Russia (Capella Film), South Korea (Contents Panda), and Japan (Culture Entertainment).

Ulrich Thomsen (Brothers) stars as police inspector Carl Morck, head of ...

TrustNordisk has lined up a series of major European territories for its new Danish thriller, The Marco Effect from Oscar-nominated director Martin Zandvliet (Land of Mine), inking deals with Koch Films for Germany and Austria and with Movies Inspired for Italian rights.

TrustNordisk is screening the film, part of the hit Department Q franchise of crime thrillers, for international buyers at the Virtual Cannes Market this week. The Marco Effect has already pre-sold to several territories, including France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Spain (Vertigo Films), Russia (Capella Film), South Korea (Contents Panda), and Japan (Culture Entertainment).

Ulrich Thomsen (Brothers) stars as police inspector Carl Morck, head of ...

TrustNordisk has closed key territory sales on “Riders of Justice,” Anders Thomas Jensen’s dark comedy starring Mads Mikkelsen.

“Riders of Justice” revolves around a military man Markus (Mikkelsen), who returns home to his teenage daughter after his wife dies in a tragic train accident. When a passenger on the wrecked train surfaces with claims of foul play, Markus begins to suspect the accident may have been a carefully orchestrated assassination.

Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Lars Brygmann, Nicolas Bro, Gustav Lindh and Andrea H. Gadeberg also star. The movie, which won four Danish Film Awards, was produced by Sisse Graum Jørgensen and Sidsel Hybschmann for Zentropa Entertainments3.

Jensen is the screenwriter behind Susanne Bier’s Oscar-winning drama “In a Better World.” His directorial credits include “Men & Chicken,” “Adam’s Apples,” “The Green Butchers” and “Flickering Lights” — all of which star Mikkelsen.

TrustNordisk sold the film to Canada (Mongrel Media), Spain (La Aventura...

Exclusive: Managers Ari Zudkewich and Jared Ceizler are joining Cavalry Media. The pair arrive at Cavalry after spending six years at Magnolia Entertainment.

Originally from New Jersey, Zudkewich started his career as an intern at ICM before joining the management company The Syndicate. Zudkewich then worked at the Gersh Agency and Brillstein Entertainment Partners before joining the Literary Department at Magnolia Entertainment. At Magnolia, he worked with clients such as Daniel Espinosa, Matt Greenberg, Babak Najafi, Martin Zandvliet and Tarik Saleh.

A Los Angeles native, Ceizler started his career as a production assistant for Blind Decker Productions. He continued on to work for the late Jack Gilardi at ICM before transitioning to management and production at Magnolia Entertainment. At Magnolia, Ceizler ran day-to-day for such clients as Rachel McAdams, Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Noomi Rapace and Bill Skarsgard. He also executive produced the film Here Are the Young Men...

A follow-up to director David Cronenberg's excellent gangster flick Eastern Promises is going into production, with action hero and The Meg star Jason Statham being eyed to lead the project. The sequel is currently titled Small Dark Look with Danish filmmaker Martin Zandvliet, who was nominated for an Oscar for his historical war drama Land of Mine, is now on board to direct.

Released back in 2007, Eastern Promises tells a story of a Russian-British midwife named Anna, who delivers the baby of a drug-addicted 14-year-old Russian prostitute who dies in childbirth. After Anna learns that the teen was forced into prostitution by the Russian Mafia in London, the leader of the Russian gangsters threatens the baby's life to keep Anna from telling the police about their villainous dealings. As Anna tries to protect the baby, she is enmeshed deeper into the criminal underworld, and is threatened by the Mafia...

Jason Statham is in negotiations to star in Focus Features’ crime drama “Small Dark Look,” with filmmaker Martin Zandvliet on board to direct.

The project, formerly known as “Body Cross,” centers on the Russian mob in London, with further plot details kept under wraps. Steven Knight, who received an Academy Award nomination for “Dirty Pretty Things,” has written the script.

“Small Dark Look” is produced by Paul Webster. William Oldroyd had been attached to direct two years ago when the project was first unveiled.

Statham starred in 2018’s actioner “The Meg,” and alongside Dwayne Johnson in the “Fast and Furious” spinoff “Hobbs & Shaw,” which has topped $750 million at the global box office. He’s also attached to star with “Happiest Season” standout Aubrey Plaza in Guy Ritchie’s untitled thriller, formerly titled “Five Eyes,” as an agent recruited by the global intelligence alliance Five Eyes to track down and stop...

Exclusive: Small Dark Look, the crime drama project formerly known as Body Cross, is becoming a real thing at Focus Features, I hear. Jason Statham is in talks to board the project which recently got a new director, Dane filmmaker Martin Zandvliet. He’s the director of the 2017 Oscar nominated foreign film Land of Mine. Statham’s deal is not locked in just yet.

Zandvliet replaces filmmaker William Oldroyd who was previously on the project, first announced two years ago. Written by Dirty Pretty Things Oscar nominated scribe Steven Knight, Small Dark Look centers around the Russian Mafia in London. The project is being produced by Paul Webster.

Focus is developing the project with the filmmakers who brought on Zandvliet.

Statham counts well over $7.8 billion at the global box office fueled by the Fast and Furious franchise, The Meg, The Expendables series, Spy, and the Transporter movies among several other action titles.

It’s been almost 15 years, but a follow-up to David Cronenberg’s gritty crime thriller Eastern Promises is making strides to the screen.

Jason Statham is circling to star what is now titled Small Dark Look, described as being set in the same Russian mob world as the acclaimed 2007 film that starred Viggo Mortensen.

Danish filmmaker Martin Zandvliet, who was nominated for a best foreign film Oscar for his drama Land of Mine, is now on board to direct.

Steven Knight, who wrote Promises (and also created shows such as Peaky Blinders), wrote the script. Loglines are being kept hidden in a steamy bathhouse ...

It’s been almost 15 years, but a follow-up to David Cronenberg’s gritty crime thriller Eastern Promises is making strides to the screen.

Jason Statham is circling to star what is now titled Small Dark Look, described as being set in the same Russian mob world as the acclaimed 2007 film that starred Viggo Mortensen.

Danish filmmaker Martin Zandvliet, who was nominated for a best foreign film Oscar for his drama Land of Mine, is now on board to direct.

Steven Knight, who wrote Promises (and also created shows such as Peaky Blinders), wrote the script. Loglines are being kept hidden in a steamy bathhouse ...

Nordisk has moved up the film’s Danish release from a planned January 21 to November 26 instead.

TrustNordisk has closed a fresh round of deals on Danish thriller The Marco Effect, selling to France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Japan (Culture Entertainment), Switzerland (Impuls), Russia (Capella) and Greece & Cyprus (Rosebud/Odeon).

Ahead of the AFM, the film had also sold to Spain (Vertigo), Slovakia and Czech Republic (Aero Films), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery Film & Video), Hungary (Vertigo Media), South Korea (Contents Panda) and Taiwan (Deepjoy).

Nordisk has moved up the film’s Danish release from a planned early February to January 21 instead. With international blockbusters still on hold,...

The film is part of the Department Q series of films, based on the bestselling crime novels of Jussi Adler-Olsen.

Ahead of the AFM, TrustNordisk has closed several deals on Danish thriller The Marco Effect, which is now in post-production.

Sales have been made to Spain (Vertigo), Slovakia and Czech Republic (Aero Films), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery Film & Video), Hungary (Vertigo Media), South Korea (Contents Panda) and Taiwan (Deepjoy).

The film was already shooting in the Czech Republic in March 2020 when the pandemic started; after a break, the team was able to successfully and safely finish the shoot in Denmark this summer.

Exclusive: Range Media Partners has locked 17 more clients for the new management/production company. This comes as its lineup of ground floor partners has changed as Lucinda Moorhead, who left UTA to join Range, has decided she will instead stay with the agency and not join the upstart venture.

On the heels of its launch earlier this month, the new Range clients range from talent to filmmakers and TV writer/producers. The company has also confirmed the clients Deadline first reported would be joining the new company.

On the talent side, Range Media Partners has signed Alessandro Nivola, Alyssa Milano, Andrew Lincoln, Eric Singer, Shea Whigham, and Vincent Cassell. Also coming are filmmakers Baltasar Kormakur, Gareth Edwards; The Raid: Redemption director Gareth Evans (who continues to be repped by Management 360); Jc Chandor; Patrick Hughes (The Hitman’s Bodyguard); Ric Roman Waugh; and Martin Zandvliet.

On the TV writer/producer side, the new clients are Jackie Clarke; Gracie Glassmeyer; Rene Gube; and Rosa Handelman.

They join an original influx of clients that includes Naomi Ackie, Michael Bay, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Jessie Buckley, Jerrod Carmichael, Emilia Clarke, Bradley Cooper, Johnny Depp, Taron Egerton, Michael Fassbender, Luca Guadagnino, Tom Hardy, Stephan James, Anna Kendrick, Taylor Kitsch, Keira Knightley, Danny McBride/Rough House Pictures, Martin McDonagh, Michael Shannon and Ramy Youssef.

We hear that Moorhead’s deal with Range did not close and that UTA made her a strong offer to stay at the agency.

The exit of Moorhead means that the ground floor partners at Range Media Partners are Dave Bugliari, Mackenzie Condon Roussos, Rich Cook, Michael Cooper, Susie Fox, Matt Graham, Sandra Kang, Rachel Kropa, Chelsea McKinnies, Peter Micelli, Mick Sullivan, Byron Wetzel, and Jack Whigham.

Scandi major Nordisk Film has acquired a minority stake in leading Norwegian production company Fantefilm, known for successful local blockbusters including The Quake and The Wave.

The parties have also signed a new output deal which will see Nordisk continue as the Nordic distribution and international sales rights partner on Fantefilm’s future slate.

More from DeadlineBFI Reveals Writer-Director Bursary Shortlist, Danny Boyle Joins Jury; Nordisk Deal In Norway -- Global BriefsNordisk Film & 'Land Of Mine' Director Martin Zandvliet Set Cast For Department Q Thriller 'The Marco Effect''Out Of Africa' Writer Karen Blixen & Nuclear Bomb Physicist Niels Bohr Get Biopic Treatment Via Nordisk Film

Fantefilm’s credits also include Ragnarok (2013), Escape (2012) and Cold Prey (2006) as well as the popular Merry Christmas, Mr. Andersen film series. Fantefilm currently has four feature films in production and is also developing a major TV series.

Said Kenneth Wiberg, President of Nordisk Film Distribution and Vice President,...

TrustNordisk has picked up international sales rights to Martin Zandvliet’s next crime-thriller “The Marco Effect” which is based on Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling novel by the same name.

The screenplay for “The Marco Effect” is written by Anders F. August (“A Fortunate Man”) and was co-written by Thomas Porsager. The film follows 14-year-old Marco, a homeless gipsy boy, who is arrested at the Danish boarder control for possession of a missing public servant’s passport. But the traumatized Marco refuses to talk to them and runs away from those who intend to kill him because of what he knows.

The film, which just started shooting, stars Ulrich Thomsen (“The Young Pope”), alongside upcoming talents Zaki Youssef (“Sons of Denmark”) and Sofie Torp (Wildland”). Zandvliet is a very well-established director whose made his feature debut with “Applaus.” Zandvliet credits also include “Land of Mine” which competed the prestigious Platform section...

Scandi major TrustNordisk will handle world sales on The Marco Effect, which is based on Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling crime-thriller novel of the same name.

Danish filmmaker Martin Zandvliet, whose credits include the Oscar-nominated war pic Land Of Mine, is helming the project, which is budgeted at $8.1m (€7.4m) and began shooting this week.

Written by Anders F. August (A Fortunate Man) with co-writer Thomas Porsager, the movie stars Ulrich Thomsen (The New Pope), Zaki Youssef (Sons Of Denmark), and Sofie Torp (Wildland) in the story of a homeless boy who is arrested at the Danish boarder control for possession of a missing public servant’s passport.

A police inspector is tasked with finding the connection, but the case contains several suspicious elements: The public servant was accused of pedophilia shortly before he disappeared, and his case was closed unusually quickly. The silent, traumatized Marco refuses to talk to them,...

The Oscar-winning Danish writer-director has just started shooting his new project on the island of Fyn and in Sweden. Anders Thomas Jensen has just started filming his new project, Riders of Justice, on the island of Fyn and in Sweden. Jensen is known for his dark humour and has over 30 feature credits under his belt; as a screenwriter, he has collaborated with directors such as Susanne Bier, Lone Scherfig, Martin Zandvliet, Tomas Villum Jensen and Kristian Levring. Furthermore, his 1998 effort Election Night was crowned Best Live-action Short Film at the Academy Awards, after he garnered two nominations in the same category in 1996 and 1997. His fifth feature, penned by the director himself, centres on Markus (played by Mads Mikkelsen), a military man on active duty who has to go home to look after his teenage daughter Mathilde (Andrea Heick Gadeberg) when his wife dies in a tragic...

Martin Zandvliet to direct Ulrich Thomsen and Zaki Youssef in fresh adaptation of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s novels.

After a hugely successful run of four films produced by Zentropa, the Department Q crime thriller series is moving to Nordisk Film.

Director Martin Zandvliet and producer Mikael Rieks – both Oscar nominated for Land Of Mine – reunite on the project after also working together on Applause and A Funny Man.

Ulrich Thomsen and Zaki Youssef are confirmed to star in The Marco Effect as Carl Mørck and Assad; they take over from the previous pairing of Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares in the first four films,...

Nordisk Film and Land of Mine director Martin Zandvliet have set the cast for upcoming Scandi detective thriller The Marco Effect.

Ulrich Thomsen (In a Better World) and Zaki Youssef (Sons of Denmark) will star in the feature, based on Jussi Adler-Olsen’s fifth novel in the bestselling Department Q series. Nordisk Film Production’s Mikael Rieks is producer.

In the Danish-language crime thriller, Thomsen will play detective Carl Mørck and Youssef will portray his assistant Assad. The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Marco who is on the run and who also happens to be the key to uncovering a story of multinational corruption within government funds earmarked for development aid in Africa.

The adaptation is the first in a series of six Department Q films planned by Nordisk Film in co-production with Peter Nadermann’s Nadcon Film from Germany. Script is from Anders August (A Fortunate Man) and newcomer Thomas Porsager.

The story of astronaut Christa McAuliffe's life is about to be told in The Challenger, which will star Michelle Williams. McAuliffe was a New Hampshire high school teacher who was selected to join Nasa's Teacher in Space Project and later became a part of the Space Shuttle Challenger crew. The crew launched the Challenger mission from Cape Canaveral on January 28, 1986, which exploded 73 seconds after takeoff, killing all seven crew members on live television and shocking the world.

Martin Zandvliet is directing The Challenger from a script by Jayson Rothwell. Production on the biopic is set to begin in May 2019, if everything goes according to plan. The story puts the focus on Christa McAuliffe (Michelle Williams) and how she was chosen to be a part of the Challenger crew and be the first teacher in space. Christa McAuliffe posthumously received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and several high...

I was in the second grade when the space shuttle Challenger launched and exploded on its journey to space. I have vivid memories of that day sitting in my classroom and being completely in shock when I saw the shuttle explode on TV. That was a crazy emotional day.

Well, that historical tragedy is being developed as a feature film called The Challenger and Michelle Williams is set to star in the film as Christa McAuliffe, the school teacher who was on board the shuttle. The story will revolve around her. Here’s the story description:

The Challenger will follow the true story of McAuliffe, a New Hampshire high school teacher who was selected to join Nasa’s Teacher in Space Project. She eventually became part of the astronaut crew on the Space Shuttle Challenger, which launched from Cape Canaveral on January 28, 1986. The shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff, on live TV,...

Oscar nominee Michelle Williams has signed on to play Christa McAuliffe in “The Challenger,” a true-story drama about the infamous Nasa space shuttle that exploded just over a minute after launch.

McAuliffe was a New Hampshire school teacher who was selected as part of a Nasa program to include teachers among the astronauts participating in the space shuttle program. McAuliffe was set to become the first teacher in space and was planning to teach two classes to her students from space.

Also Read: Michelle Williams, Sam Rockwell to Star in Lin-Manuel Miranda's FX Limited Series 'Fosse/Verdon'

But 73 seconds after the launch of Challenger on January 28, 1986, the shuttle exploded and disintegrated before a nationwide TV audience, killing McAuliffe and the other six astronauts aboard. The space shuttle program was put on pause for nearly three years, during which a federal investigation discovered that Nasa had neglected its safety standards...

Michelle Williams will star as the late astronaut Christa McAuliffe in the drama “The Challenger,” centered on the 1986 Space Shuttle disaster.

Producers are John and Art Linson, and Argent Pictures’ Ben Renzo. Martin Zandvliet will direct “The Challenger” from Jayson Rothwell’s script. Argent partners Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens, Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Michael Finley, and Derrick Brooks are executive producing the pic. Production is expected to start in May.

The tragedy took place when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members, including McAuliffe.

McAuliffe was a New Hampshire high school teacher who was selected to join Nasa’s Teacher in Space Project, and had been planning to conduct experiments and teach lessons from the Space Shuttle Challenger. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004.

Williams has been nominated for Academy Awards for “Brokeback Mountain,” “Blue Valentine,” “My Week With Marilyn,...

Exclusive: Michelle Williams is set to star as Christa McAuliffe in The Challenger, a feature film about the 1986 space shuttle tragedy being produced by John and Art Linson and Argent Pictures’ Ben Renzo. Land of Mine director Martin Zandvliet will direct the biopic of sorts that is penned by Jayson Rothwell. A May 2019 production start is being eyed.

The Challenger will follow the true story of McAuliffe, a New Hampshire high school teacher who was selected to join Nasa’s Teacher in Space Project. She eventually became part of the astronaut crew on the Space Shuttle Challenger, which launched from Cape Canaveral on January 28, 1986. The shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff, on live TV, killing all seven aboard.

McAuliffe’s memory and mission left a lasting impression and legacy on her family, community and teachers worldwide. Many schools have been named in her honor, and she posthumously received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

“We are more than humbled and extremely grateful for the opportunity to help tell the story of Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger mission,” Renzo said. “Christa McAuliffe’s legacy deserves the strength, courage, experience and humanity that Michelle Williams brings to the role. The entire Argent team is honored and eager to responsibly capture and share the events and personal journeys of those surrounding this important historical moment with audiences around the world to help remember and further appreciate the sacrifices Christa and rest of the Challenger crew made to further our journey into space.”

Argent partners Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens, Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Michael Finley and Derrick Brooks are executive producing.

Williams, a four-time Oscar nominee including most recently as Supporting Actress for 2017’s Manchester By the Sea, is next up on the big screen in Sony’s Venom opposite Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmed. It opens wide Friday.

She also just wrapped production on Bart Freundlich’s After the Wedding with Julianne Moore, and now has now started work on FX’s eight-episode limited series starring Sam Rockwell as Bob Fosse and Williams as Gwen Verdon. That project hails from Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail, Dear Evan Hansen‘s Steven Levenson, Fox 21 TV Studios and FX Productions.

Williams is repped by Wme, Brillstein Entertainment and Bloom, Hergott.

Michelle Williams is attached to star in the movie The Challenger, playing late teacher-turned-astronaut Christa McAuliffe.

On the morning of Jan. 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger took off from Cape Canaveral and exploded shortly thereafter, killing all seven crewmembers, including McAuliffe, a high school teacher from New Hampshire who was selected to join Nasa’s Teacher in Space Project.

After the tragedy, McAuliffe was honored posthumously with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Martin Zandvliet (Land of Mine) will direct the biopic of sorts, which was penned by Jayson Rothwell. John and Art Linson are producing, along with Argent Pictures’ Ben ...

Michelle Williams is attached to star in the movie The Challenger, playing late teacher-turned-astronaut Christa McAuliffe.

On the morning of Jan. 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger took off from Cape Canaveral and exploded shortly thereafter, killing all seven crewmembers, including McAuliffe, a high school teacher from New Hampshire who was selected to join Nasa’s Teacher in Space Project.

After the tragedy, McAuliffe was honored posthumously with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Martin Zandvliet (Land of Mine) will direct the biopic of sorts, which was penned by Jayson Rothwell. John and Art Linson are producing, along with Argent Pictures’ Ben ...

K5 Intl., part of film financing and production company K5 Media Group, which has produced movies starring Robert Duvall, Jeremy Irons, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Paul Walker and Ethan Hawke, has inked a strategic partnership with and will receive financial backing from White Rabbit, a company that employs P2P streaming and blockchain technology to distribute films and TV shows.

K5 will provide access to its library of 50-plus films to White Rabbit, and K5 co-founder Daniel Baur will join the White Rabbit advisory board. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

“I have been actively searching the blockchain space for over a year, looking for companies that can have a massive impact on the film industry,” Baur said in a statement. “With White Rabbit, I saw a product that properly integrates blockchain and embraces the existing entertainment industry and fans in a unique way. We believe White Rabbit...

As with American gangster films, yakuza-themed movies have long been a staple of Japanese cinema. But they rarely achieve significant exposure on American shores, for obvious (subtitles) reasons. Thus provides the impetus for Netflix's production of an ultra-violent yakuza film starring Jared Leto as a gaijin, or outsider, who becomes a trusted member of the Japanese underworld in the 1950s. Designed to offer Western audiences the opportunity to see a Caucasian movie star, and a heartthrob one at that, in an unusual genre setting, The Outsider rarely manages to rise above its audience-baiting concept.

Directed by Danish filmmaker Martin Zandvliet...

Netflix has released a new trailer for ‘The Outsider‘, a new crime thriller starring Jered Leto. The film is set in post-wwii Japan, where Leto plays an american Pow who is forced to repay a debt while navigating the criminal underworld. Although the last time we saw Leto was in ‘Blade Runner 2049‘, this performance seems to see the actor to stretch some different muscles while also keeping his well-known method approach. The fact the Leto seems to be playing a more subtle ruthless killer adds some spice to what could be a very routine movie.

The film has been long in the works. The script was penned in 2011, and throughout it’s development big stars like Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy were attaached at one point or another. Netflix acquired worldwide rights to the film in 2016, hiring Danish filmmaker Martin Zandvliet to direct the script that was co-written by...

Sneak Peek new footage from the upcoming action thriller "The Outsider", directed by Martin Zandvliet, starring Jared Leto (recently making a 'name' for himself playing psychotic killers to rival Robert De Niro), with Tadanobu Asano, Rory Cochrane, Shiori Kutsuna, Emile Hirsch and Kippei Shiina, streaming on Netflix, March 9, 2018:

"...in 'The Outsider', a captive soldier is set free from prison with the help of his underworld cellmate. With this, he repays his debt of gratitude in a way that will require him to maneuver in the world of criminals..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Outsider"...

Author: Zehra Phelan

Netflix has released a new trailer for The Outsider in which Jared Leto takes on the role as a jailed American soldier who is freed by his Yakuza cellmate and ends up joining the criminal syndicate as a way to repay his debt.

After being stuck in development limbo, the film, which at one point had Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy to star and Takashi Miike to direct finally gets a release with Suicide Squad’s Leto taking the lead.

Trailer to watch: Saoirse Ronan stars in first look trailer for On Chesil Beach

Directed by Land of Mine’s Martin Zandvliet, the film stars Leto alongside Tadanobu Asano, Kippei Shiina, Shioli Kutsuna, Emile Hirsch, Raymond Nicholson, Rory Cochrane, Nao Omori, and Min Tanaka.

The film hits Netflix March 9th.

The Outsider Official Synopsis

Set in post-wwii Japan, an imprisoned American soldier (Leto) is released with the help of his Yakuza cellmate.

The Outsider Trailer Martin Zandvliet‘s The Outsider (2018) movie trailer stars Jared Leto, Tadanobu Asano, Kippei Shiina, Shioli Kutsuna, and Emile Hirsch. The Outsider‘s plot synopsis: “Set in post-wwii Japan, an imprisoned American soldier (Leto) is released with the help of his Yakuza cellmate. Now free, he sets out to earn their respect and repay his [...]

Continue reading: The Outsider (2018) Movie Trailer: Jared Leto Joins the Yakuza in Post-World War II Japan...

Netflix has released the first trailer and poster for The Outsider, which stars Jared Leto in a much different role than fans are used to seeing him in. This period piece takes the chameleonic actor into an intriguing historical era, as he portrays an American soldier imprisoned in postwar Japan, who enters the dark world of the yakuza, adopting their way of life in repayment for his freedom, after he's released with the help of his Yakuza cellmate. Now free, he sets out to earn their respect and repay his debt while navigating the dangerous criminal underworld.

The trailer begins with a woman sporting an intricate full-body tattoo telling Jared Leto's character Nick Lowell about the legend of the koi fish that swims up a waterfall, and becomes a dragon. The footage also features a few Japanese traditions like Kabuki theater and sumo wrestling, while Nick Lowell states that he...

"I understand... In life, sometimes we fight the current." Netflix has debuted the first official trailer for an action crime drama titled The Outsider, which will be available on Netflix starting next week - not much of a wait. They're getting better at dropping new films out of nowhere. The Outsider is the latest feature made by Danish director Martin Zandvliet, who last made the Oscar-nominated (from 2016) film Land of Mine. Jared Leto stars in this as an imprisoned American soldier in post-wwii Japan. After being released, he ends up working for the Yakuza to earn their respect and repay his debt. The full cast includes Tadanobu Asano, Kippei Shiina, Shioli Kutsuna, Emile Hirsch, Raymond Nicholson, Rory Cochrane, Nao Omori, and Min Tanaka. Okay, this actually looks pretty damn cool. Definitely worth looking into below. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Martin Zandvliet's The Outsider, direct from YouTube: Set in post-wwii Japan,...

Netflix has released an intriguing first trailer for Jared Leto's upcoming crime thriller The Outsider. The story is an interesting one as it follows an "American soldier (Leto) who is imprisoned in postwar Japan and he enters the dark world of the yakuza, adopting their way of life in repayment for his freedom." After he is free, "he sets out to earn their respect and repay his debt while navigating the dangerous criminal underworld."

This seriously looks like it's going to be a great movie! I love the concept and the story, which is going to dive deep into the world of Japan's criminal underworld. That's always fascinated me.

The film was directed by Martin Zandvliet (Land of Mine) and the rest of the cast includes Tadanobu Asano, Kippei Shiina, Shioli Kutsuna, Emile Hirsch, Raymond Nicholson, Rory Cochrane, Nao Omori and Min Tanaka.

The Outsider premieres on Netflix on March 9th.

In Martin Zandvliet's The Outsider, Jared Leto plays Nick Lowell, an imprisoned American soldier who is released from his incarceration with the help of his Yakuza cellmate. Now that he's able to breathe fresh air, Nick sets out to earn the respect and pay his debt to the transnational syndicate while navigating their criminal underworld. Produced by Art Linson, Kenneth... Read More...

Netflix has released The Outsider trailer. The film stars Jared Leto as a jailed American soldier who is freed by his Yakuza cellmate and ends up joining the criminal syndicate as a way to repay his debt. Such repayment apparently includes beating people to death with typewriters. The Outsider has been in development for a while and at one point was eyeing Tom Hardy or Michael Fassbender to star with possibly Takashi Miike on board to direct. However, the final product came out with Leto and the director’s chair being filled by Danish helmer Martin Zandvliet (Land of Mine). …...

Jared Leto plays an American soldier who joins the Japanese Yakuza in Netflix’s trailer for The Outsider. The Netflix movie also stars Tadanobu Asano (Thor: Ragnarok), Rory Cochrane (Argo), Shiori Kutsuna (My Back Pages), and Emile Hirsch (Speed Racer). Martin Zandvliet, director of the Oscar-nominated Land of Mine, directed from a script by Andrew Baldwin (The Take).

Set in post-war Japan, The Outsider stars Leto as Nick Lowell, an imprisoned American soldier set free with the help of his Yakuza cellmate.

The Outsider

Danish filmmaker Martin Zandvliet scored his first international success with his third feature, 2015’s tense WWII film Land of Mine (read review), which competed in Tiff’s first Platform Program, and went on to win a slew of festival recognition and box office receipts, earning the distinction of Denmark’s submission for the 2016 foreign language offering (if you haven’t had the opportunity, his 2009 debut Applause starring Paprika Steen as an alcoholic actress performing Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

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