Niels Arden Oplev Readies ‘Racewalking’
TrustNordisk will be bringing the latest project from Niels Arden Oplev to Toronto. The director of the original The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is returning to his native Denmark to direct the adaption of Morten Kirkskov’s novel Racewalking. The helmer recently signed a one-year overall deal with CBS Studios after directing the pilot of crime drama Unforgettable and the opening episode of summer series Under The Dome. His last feature, Dead Man Down, starred Colin Farrell and Dragon Tattoo’s Noomi Rapace. Racewalking stars Anders W. Berthelsen of the original The Killing, alongside Borgen’s Sidse Babett Knudsen. Villads Bøye, Frederik Winther Rasmussen and Kraka Donslund Nielsen also star. The script is by The Art Of Crying’s Bo Hr. Hansen. It’s set in 1976 in a quirky small town where 14-year-old Martin is getting ready for his communion. But in the midst of it all his mother suddenly passes away and her tragic death triggers a series of events that changes his life forever and affects everyone else in the community. A Hijacking exec producer Thomas Heinesen is producer.
‘Transformers 4‘ Adds Chinese Cast
Paramount said when it announced in April that it was teaming with two China-based companies on a “cooperation agreement” for Transformers 4 that it would add Chinese talent. After adding Li Bingbing to a cast that includes Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz and Sophia Myles, four Chinese actors have reportedly won roles via a reality competition show. Byron Li, Austin Lin, Candice Zhao and Teresa Daley got the parts thanks to the Transformers 4 Chinese Actors Talent Search Reality Show, which was launched by Paramount in cooperation with Jiaflix and the China Movie Channel in April, China.org.cn says. The contest attracted more than 70,000 applicants. Judging by the website’s report, these are small, if not extra, roles including “Kung Fu fighter”, “sexy goddess”, “computer geek” and “cute Loli.” The panel of judges, per the report, included former AMPAS president Sid Ganis, who’s now chairman of Jiaflix; Transformers 4 producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura; Lindsey Bayman, SVP business affairs at Paramount; Paramount president of marketing and distribution Megan Colligan; and Liang Longfei, VP of China Movie Channel’s M1905.com. Chinese pop star Han Geng also has a role in the upcoming film that will be directed by Michael Bay. Per the report, it is not expected that there will be a special China-only version of Transformers 4, contrary to the case of this year’s Iron Man 3.
Venice Pic ‘Pine Ridge’ Finds UK Buyer
UK sales agency Film Republic has acquired worldwide rights to Danish feature documentary Pine Ridge. The movie is an out-of-competition selection in Venice. It’s a look at the daily lives of the young residents of the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Producer is Katja Adomeit whose credits include The Weight Of Elephants and Berik, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes’ Critics’ Week in 2010.
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