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Big studios have poured money into foreign-language films – but is this just a backdoor way to dominate overseas markets?

When the horror film The Orphanage opened big in its home country of Spain in October 2007, distributor Warner Brothers wanted director Ja Bayona to know he was loved. "We call him Jota," says Richard Fox, executive VP of international at Warner. "He's an amazing Superman fan, and I had a piece of kryptonite from the Bryan Singer version sent to my hotel in Barcelona. After this huge opening weekend, we went to a fish restaurant on Monday night to celebrate. I got there early, so I was sat there with my box of kryptonite, looking at the portraits on the wall: Bill Clinton, Tom Cruise, Zinedine Zidane. When Jota arrived, I gave him the kryptonite, and a guy took a photo. We sat and had a three-hour dinner. When we left,...

Perhaps best known internationally for his part in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, the German writer-director-actor Til Schweiger returns behind the camera next month with Schutzengel (roughly translated: Guardian Angel).

The first poster and a handful of new images, along with hi-res versions of a few that have already surfaced, have now made their way online.

“A troubled former soldier works to protect an orphan who witnessed a murder from the assassins out to get her.”

Schweiger stars in the lead as the troubled former soldier, once more alongside his daughter Luna Schweiger (Keinohrhasen, or Rabbit Without Ears), and Moritz Bleibtreu (Run Lola Run).

Schweiger is directing from a script he co-wrote with newcomer Paul Maurice and Stephen Butchard (Vincent).

Schutzengel will be released by the German arm of Warner Bros. on 27th September, and as yet, there’s no word on if/when it will arrive in the UK or Us.

Hello Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba and Gael García Bernal! As big-budget film-making increasingly targets new markets, here are the actors from around the world who could capitalise

Hollywood has always reinforced its star ranks with choice acting talent from around the world. Some groups succeed better than others: Anglo and Australian actors are, culturally speaking, a natural fit; performers from the east Asia struggle for acceptance outside martial arts roles. But, as big-budget film-making increasingly targets non-American audiences, expect these ground rules to change. The uptake of personnel from other continents will increase, and their involvement will become more central: they won't just be there as exotic add-ons; they will function as full audience proxies – in the ways true stars do – for these emerging markets. The sidekicks will become the protagonists. Here's a few of the new breed already in the global frame.

Noomi Rapace

Rapace already has her global-mainstream...

Remaking foreign films for American Audiences is nothing new, but the new big budget redo of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and the subsequent vitriol from the original's maker has brought new light to the practice. This has not deterred studios as they buy the rights for European films Rabbit Without Ears and The Door. Til Schweiger wrote, directed, and starred in Rabbit, which has become one of the most successful films to ever grace the German box office. In it, a tabloid reporter is sentenced to 300 hours community service after crashing a celebrity shindig. The location of his retribution is at a local daycare headed by a woman who he endlessly teased during their childhood together. At first, she is bent on the opportunity for revenge in her new position of power, but warms to the...

Universal Pictures International has climbed on board Detlev Buck's upcoming project called "Rubbeldikatz" starring Matthias Schweighoefer ("Friendship"). Based on a screenplay by Anika Decker ("Rabbit Without Ears"), the comedy (also known as "Woman in Love") follows an unsuccessful actor whose life takes a dramatic turn after he is mistakenly cast as a woman in a big Hollywood flick. Alexandra Maria Lara ("Farewell") co-stars in the Film 1, Boje Buck and Universal co-production. Also starring is Buck as well as Max von Thun, Maximilian Brueckner and Denis Moschitto. Variety reports that Christian Grass, Universal's president of international production and acquisitions co-produces with Henning Ferber and Marcus Welke of Film 1...

Universal Pictures International has climbed on board Detlev Buck's upcoming project called "Rubbeldikatz" starring Matthias Schweighoefer ("Friendship"). Based on a screenplay by Anika Decker ("Rabbit Without Ears"), the comedy (also known as "Woman in Love") follows an unsuccessful actor whose life takes a dramatic turn after he is mistakenly cast as a woman in a big Hollywood flick. Alexandra Maria Lara ("Farewell") co-stars in the Film 1, Boje Buck and Universal co-production. Also starring is Buck as well as Max von Thun, Maximilian Brueckner and Denis Moschitto. Variety reports that Christian Grass, Universal's president of international production and acquisitions co-produces with Henning Ferber and Marcus Welke of Film 1...

Cologne, Germany -- Two Ubertalents of the German media industry have joined forces: Fred Kogel, former head of commercial network Sat.1 and board member of Munich mini-major Constantin Film has taken over German representation of Teutonic multi-hyphanate Til Schweiger.

Kogel's consulting firm, Fred Kogel GmbH, will rep Schweiger for German film, television, advertising and other projects. Doreen Wilcox of Anonymous Content will continue to represent the U.S. career of the "Inglorious Basterds" star.

In his home country, Schweiger is an undisputed superstar -- the writer, director and lead actor in several boxoffice hits including "Rabbit Without Ears" (2007) and its sequel which together earned nearly $100 million at the till for Warner Bros. Germany. Schweiger is also the front man for several high-profile German ad campaigns, including one for Braun razors and Konig Pilsner beer.

Kogel is one of the German industry's prime insiders and powerbrokers. He has held key posts at networks Zdf and Sat.