In a recent report by France’s La Voix Du Nord (via The Playlist), Patrice Vergriete, the current Mayor of Dunkirk, France, announced that an American blockbuster would be filmed there in June 2016 by a “world famous director”. The regional newspaper claimed that the said director is “Interstellar” director Christopher Nolan.
Now, according to Variety, sources confirmed that Nolan will be helming the film based on an original screenplay that he wrote.
Titled “Dunkirk”, the film is described to be a World War II film inspired by The Dunkirk evacuation. Code-named Operation: Dynamo, the legendary evacuation took place in France city during World War II. It saw more than 300,000 soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied troops being rescued from an overwhelming attack by Germany’s army from May until June in 1940.
Nolan and his casting department recently began testing teenagers in London for lead roles, but he wanted to narrow down some choices for the few adult roles in the adventure film before the holiday as well.
In a press statement, Creative Development and Worldwide Production President Greg Silverman said:
We are thrilled to be continuing our collaboration with Christopher Nolan, a singular filmmaker who has created some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films of all time.
“Dunkirk is a gripping and powerful story and we are excited to see Chris, Emma, and their cast realise it on the big screen,” he added.
The large-scale production will be shot on a combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large format film photography. Filming will begin in May using the real locations of the true-life events and Nolan will be producing it alongside his wife Emma Thomas.
Insiders told Variety that a total of 3 actors are in talks to star in the film and they are Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy.
Rylance recently received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in “Bridge of Spies“. He will be seen next in “The BFG“, a Steven Speilberg film which is slated for release in 2017.
As for Hardy, he has appeared in a number of notable films such as “Star Trek: Nemesis”, crime film “RocknRolla”, science-fiction thriller “Inception”, biographical psychological drama “Bronson”, sports drama “Warrior”, and crime drama “Lawless”. He most recently starred in “Mad Max: Fury Road“, “Legend“, and “The Revenant“.
Branagh has been nominated for 5 Academy Awards, 5 Golden Globes, and has won an Emmy Award. He starred in a number of films and TV series such as “Fortunes of War”, “Celebrity”, “Wild Wild West”, “Conspiracy”, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, “Warm Springs”, and “Wallander”.
“Dunkirk” is set to be released on 21st July 2017.
Source: Variety.
