EXCLUSIVE: Nick Hamm’s action-packed adaptation William Tellstarring Claes Bang and Golshifteh Farahani, has been sold in the UK, Ireland and German-speaking countries ahead of its world premiere in Toronto next week.
Following the well-attended press and trade screening of the film in Toronto on Thursday, Munich-based distribution company Beta Cinema announced the all-rights contracts with Altitude (UK and Ireland) and SquareOne Entertainment for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Both distributors are aiming for a release date in the first quarter of 2025.
Beta Cinema has already announced deals earlier this year with SF Studios (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland), Beta Fiction (Spain), Eagle Pictures (Italy), Dutch Filmworks (Benelux), Pris Audiovisuais (Portugal), Monolith Films (Poland), Cinemart (Czech Republic), Blitz (Former Yugoslavia), ADS (Hungary and Romania), Beta Film (Bulgaria), TFG (Greece), Ukraine (Top Film) and The Plot Pictures (Middle East and Turkey).
Director Hamm’s adaptation of Friedrich Schiller’s classic play comes fresh from post-production.
Bang (The space, Dracula) plays the title hero alongside Farahani (Paterson, extraction) to the wife. They are joined by Connor Swindells (Barbie, Sex education), Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid, The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Ellie Bamber (Moss & Freud, Nocturnal animals), Rafe Spall (Shipwreck with Tiger, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) and Emily Beecham (The interpreter, Little Joe), with Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler’s List) and Oscar nominee Jonathan Pryce (The two popes, game of Thrones).
Will Clarke, Co-CEO of Altitude, commented on the acquisition: “It is fantastic to be working with such an incredible team of filmmakers and our friends at Beta and we can’t wait to bring the epic and thrilling film William Tell to audiences in the UK and Ireland.”
Thomas Sierk, Director of Acquisitions & Sales at SquareOne Entertainment, says: “The production really succeeds in telling the story of the legendary freedom fighter William Tell as a thrilling, action-packed epic with an outstanding international cast.
Al Munteanu, CEO of SquareOne Entertainment, added: “Together with my team, I am excited to bring this fantastic production to theaters early next year.”
The story is set in the 14th century, when European nations are fiercely vying for dominance of the Holy Roman Empire. The ambitious Austrians, seeking more land, invade Switzerland, a tranquil and idyllic nation.
Against this backdrop, William Tell, a once peaceful hunter, is forced to take action as his family and homeland are in grave danger from the oppressive Austrian king and his ruthless warlords. At the head of his countrymen, Tell begins a courageous rebellion to defend their freedom and oppose the tyrannical powers that seek to oppress them.
Hamm’s previous works include Drivenwhich was selected as the closing film of the Venice Film Festival, Netflix’ White lines And The trip which premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals.
Piers Tempest (The Woman, Emily) and Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich ((Gigi and Nate) produce. Executive producers are Jon Hamm, David Nichols and Francesco Marras.
William Tell is a production of Free Turn Films / Tempo in association with Beta Cinema, WME Independent, Prime Focus Studios and Groenlandia and Cineroma SRL. The production is supported by IDM South Tyrol and the Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano – South Tyrol as well as the Quebec Film Production Services Tax Credit.
“We are delighted to be working with such highly respected distributors for the UK and Germany. The epic story of William Tell offers a rich thematic diversity and forms a solid foundation for bold and ambitious theatrical campaigns in these two important European markets,” said Thorsten Ritter, EVP of Beta Cinema.
The film will have its world premiere at a gala screening in Toronto next week and then its European premiere at the Zurich Film Festival in October. Beta Cinema is handling international rights, while WME Independent is representing domestic rights.
