“Choo! Choo! All Aboard!!” – It’s All Aboard for British Oscar Winning actor Colin Firth as he signs onto to be The Railway Man. Lionsgate today informed The Peoples Movies that they have bought the UK distribution rights for the epic World War 2 drama which is to star Firth as Eric Lomax an former amry officer who was captured by the Japanese as POW forced to work on the Railway of death between Thailand and Burma. In the film we experience the torment Eric went through as well as the revenge years later on his Japanese tormentors.
When you ask Colin Firth to join your films cast and that movie is an period drama you know when he accepts the film is a recipe for success the actors filmography proves it with many of his recent films all been set in a certain period going onto be successful worldwide, The Kings Speech been the most notable. The movie will be a Australian – British co production with Jonathan Teplitzky directing the film, with Frank Cottrell Bryce and Andy Paterson writing the script.
We dont know much more about the film just yet apart from the film been ready to shoot in Thailand and Australia this February .As for who will co-star with Firth but when we do we will post updates on the site when we get them, read the press release Lionsgate UK have sent us below. Colin Firth will be next seen in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy this Friday and Gambit with Cameron Diaz early 2012.
COLIN FIRTH BOARDS EPIC DRAMA “THE RAILWAY MAN”
LIONSGATE TAKES UK DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS AND WILL HANDLE WORLDWIDE SALES
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, includingHilary 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.
