THE WINTER QUEEN is an adaptation from the first of the Erast Fandorin series; an astounding sixteen part detective novel series written by Boris Akunin (pen name of Grigory Chkartishvili). The film was originally set to start filming in 2007 with it’s international cast filming in Berlin, St Petersburg and London, but was postponed due to Mila Jovovich’s pregnancy.
Jovovich (RESIDENT EVIL) has long been cast as Lady Amalia, the femme fatale of the series, who is set to star alongside Angelica Huston (THE ADAMS FAMILY) and David Thewlis (SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET). Renowned Russian director Fedor Bonderchuk (NINTH COMPANY, TWO DAYS) is bringing the story to life of Erast Fandorin, an aspiring young detective in 1886 Russia as he follows a conspiracy from Russia to England and back again to uncover the mysterious circumstances behind the suicides of a spate of young male aristocrats in Russia. Huston is to play influential yet sinister philanthropist Lady Astair who inherits much of the dead mens’ wealth, whilst Thewlis is cast as the benevolent Count Zurov.
Chief Executive Officer Peter Hoffman stated:
“Feodor and I are pleased to welcome Ms. Huston and Mr. Thewlis to our international cast of ‘The Winter Queen’ which will start principal photography this spring. This production will the first of two expected major productions this year.”
Well with sixteen books to possibly translate into film, and five years behind schedule, it is unsurprising that Seven Arts Entertainment and Bonderchuk are anxious to get on. With such a great cast shaping up we’ll defintely be keeping an eye on this one!
Source: Coming Soon
