Kursk (film)
Kursk | |
---|---|
Directed by | Thomas Vinterberg |
Screenplay by | Robert Rodat |
Produced by | Ariel Zeitoun Luc Besson Lisa Ellzey Laurent Hanon Clément Sentilhes |
Starring | Matthias Schoenaerts Colin Firth Léa Seydoux Max von Sydow Michael Nyqvist |
Cinematography | Anthony Dod Mantle |
Edited by | Valdís Óskarsdóttir |
Music by | Alexandre Desplat |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Relativity EuropaCorp Distribution STXfilms |
Countries | France Belgium Luxembourg |
Language | English[1][2] |
Budget | $40 million[3][4][5] |
Kursk is an upcoming English-language French-Belgian drama film directed by Thomas Vinterberg based on Robert Moore’s book A Time to Die, about the true story of the 2000 Kursk submarine disaster. It stars Matthias Schoenaerts, Colin Firth, Léa Seydoux, Peter Simonischek, Max von Sydow, Matthias Schweighöfer and Michael Nyqvist (in one of his final film roles).
Plot
Based on the 2000 K-141 Kursk submarine disaster, in which 118 Russian sailors died. Kursk sank during a Russian naval exercise in the Barents Sea after explosions within the submarine. Twenty-three sailors survived the crash and desperately waited for help to arrive while their oxygen ran out minute-by-minute. The Russian government refused help from foreign governments for five days before agreeing to aid from the British and Norwegian governments.
Cast
- Matthias Schoenaerts as Russian Navy captain-lieutenant Mikhail Kalekov[6]
- Colin Firth as David Russell[6]
- Léa Seydoux as Tanya, Mikhail Kalekov's wife[6]
- Martin Brambach as Captain Shirokov
- Guido De Craene as Calpin
- Geoffrey Newland as Tony Scott
- Danny Van Meenen as Paal Dinessen
- Peter Simonischek
- Max von Sydow
- Michael Nyqvist
- Matthias Schweighöfer[7]
- Lars Brygmann [8]
Production
On 17 August 2015, it was announced that EuropaCorp was developing a film based on the 2000 K-141 Kursk submarine disaster, and that Martin Zandvliet had been hired to direct the film from a script by Robert Rodat, based on Robert Moore’s 2002 book A Time to Die. "Kursk" would have been Zandvliet’s first English-language film.[1] On 21 January 2016, it was reported that Zandvliet was no longer attached and that EuropaCorp had hired Thomas Vinterberg to direct the film.[9]
On 2 March 2016, Matthias Schoenaerts was announced in the cast, reteaming with Vinterberg after Far from the Madding Crowd (2015).[10] Colin Firth joined the cast on 26 May 2016.[11] Léa Seydoux joined the cast on 7 February 2017, in the role of Tanya, the wife of Mikhail Kalekov, a Russian Navy captain-lieutenant played by Matthias Schoenaerts. Rachel McAdams was once in talks for the role of Tanya.[6] Deadline.com also reported that Firth will play David Russell, a British naval commander who goes against Russia’s warnings so he can try to save the men on the Kursk.[6]
On 15 March 2017, it was reported that Vladimir Putin's character has been cut from the film before an actor was cast for the role.[12] According to The Hollywood Reporter,[12] EuropaCorp's president, Luc Besson, wanted to shift the story’s focus to the rescue mission rather than the politics behind the disaster. One theory noted by The Hollywood Reporter is that nobody at EuropaCorp wanted to be hacked, like happened to the film The Interview, that angered Kim Jong-un and is believed to have sparked the Sony hack in 2014.[12] Putin was just three months into the job as Russian president when the tragedy occurred in 2000. He was supposed to appear as a supporting character in the film in at least five scenes, and was sympathetically portrayed in the original Kursk script, which highlighted why he took the tragedy personally (Putin’s father was a submariner before the war).[12]
On 8 May 2017, Peter Simonischek, Max von Sydow and Michael Nyqvist were announced in the cast.[13] However Nyqvist died on 27 June.[14]
Alexandre Desplat will compose the movie score.[15] The crew includes Catherine Marchand as the costume designer,[13] Anthony Dod Mantle as the director of photography,[13] Thierry Flamand as the production designer[13] and Valdis Oskardottir as the film’s editor.[13]
Subject matter experts such as journalist Robert Moore, author of the novel upon which the film is based, along with David Russell, (Commodore, British Royal Navy who tried to save the men from Kursk), and submarine expert Ramsey Martin are advising the filmmakers.[13]
The project is being produced by France's EuropaCorp with Belgium’s Belga Productions and Luxembourg’s VIA EST.[16]
Filming
The film was scheduled to start shooting in September 2016, but it had to be postponed due to Russia's defense ministry not issuing a permit for the shoot in the country, which would run for about a month.[17] According to The Hollywood Reporter, Russia's defense ministry originally promised cooperation with the crew, wanting to provide realism expertise to the movie.[18] But later it reportedly grew concerned about granting access to classified information and locations.[2] On 7 February 2017, ScreenDaily.com reported that shooting was scheduled to start in April.[16]
Filming started at the Naval base of Toulon, France on 26 April 2017.[19] Some scenes were filmed with Colin Firth at the commercial port of Brest, France between the 2 May and the 6th May 2017, including scenes aboard the rescue ship Atlantic Tonjer,[20] serving as the Seaway Eagle.[21][22] On 8 May 2017, it was reported that besides France, shooting will also take place in locations throughout Europe, including Belgium and Norway.[13]. On 12 July 2017 the crew was in Jette (Brussels) and scenes were filmed in "Salle Excelsior" (Place Cardinal Mercier).
Release
EuropaCorp has international rights to the film, which will be released through EuropaCorp's new distribution company RED (Relativity EuropaCorp Distribution).[10] STXfilms will distribute it in the United States.[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Kursk Submarine Disaster Movie in the Works at Luc Besson's EuropaCorp". Variety. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Russia's Defense Ministry to Cooperate on Luc Besson's Submarine Disaster Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Britse Oscarwinnaar én Matthias Schoenaerts zes weken aan de slag in Lint". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 10 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Oscarwinnaar zes weken in ons land voor duurste filmproductie op Belgische bodem". De Standaard (in Dutch). 10 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Belgium's best kept secret? TLG talks to Glenn Roggeman, CEO of AED Studios". The Location Guide. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Lea Seydoux Boards EuropaCorp Submarine Drama 'Kursk' – Berlin". Deadline.com. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Matthias Schweighöfer - Schulze & Heyn FILM PR". Schulze & Heyn FILM PR. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ Seeberg, Kenan (9 April 2017). "Seven Danes to Play in Big American Disaster Movie". Metroxpress (in Danish). Metroxpress. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Thomas Vinterberg to Direct 'Kursk' Submarine Movie for Luc Besson's EuropaCorp". Variety. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Matthias Schoenaerts & Thomas Vinterberg Reunite On EuropaCorp Sub Tale 'Kursk'". Deadline.com. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Colin Firth to Star in Submarine Disaster Movie 'Kursk'". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Vladimir Putin Character Cut From Luc Besson's Russian Thriller". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Thomas Vinterberg's Kursk movie, now in production, will shoot all over Europe". ComingSoon.net. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ Michael Nyqvist, ‘Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ Star, Dies at 56. By Alex Stedman. Variety.com, June 27, 2017.
- ^ "Alexandre Desplat to Score Thomas Vinterberg's 'Kursk'". Film Music Reporter. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Lea Seydoux boards Vinterberg's Kursk submarine drama". ScreenDaily.com. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Russian Shoot of Colin Firth Disaster Movie Postponed". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ Sputnik (9 April 2016). "True to Life: Russia to Help Luc Besson Make Kursk Submarine Tragedy Movie". sputniknews.com. Sputnik. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ "Léa Seydoux et Colin Firth tournent à Toulon... en toute discrétion". Varmatin (in French). 25 April 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Brest : Tournage d'un film sur le naufrage du Koursk". Mer et Marine (in French). 9 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Tournage. Colin Firth à Brest pour le film "Kursk"". Le Télégramme (in French). 2 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Ouest france (5 May 2017). "Brest: Vintenberg tells part of the history of Kursk". Ouest france (in French). Retrieved 9 May 2017.
External links
- French films
- Belgian films
- Upcoming films
- 2010s drama films
- 2010s disaster films
- French drama films
- Belgian drama films
- English-language films
- Submarine films
- Disaster films based on actual events
- Films based on novels
- Films set in Russia
- Films shot in France
- Films shot in Belgium
- Films shot in Norway
- Films directed by Thomas Vinterberg
- EuropaCorp films
- Luxembourgian films
- French disaster films
- Belgian disaster films
- Films about seafaring accidents or incidents
- Films about survivors of seafaring accidents or incidents
- Seafaring films based on actual events
- Films scored by Alexandre Desplat