Beta Cinema Launches Nick Hamm’s Epic ‘William Tell’ With Claes Bang, Connor Swindells, Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani & Ben Kingsley; Releases First-Look Image – AFM

Beta Cinema and the UK’s Free Turn Films and Tempo Productions have officially announced Nick Hamm’s epic drama William Tell, as its under-the-radar shoot enters its final week in Italy.

The partners have unveiled a first-look image of Claes Bang in the role of the legendary crossbow-wielding warrior (scroll down to check it out).

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Bang is joined in the cast by Connor Swindells, Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani, Jonah Hauer-King, Rafe Spall, Emily Beecham, Jonathan Pryce and Oscar winner Ben Kingsley.

“As a filmmaker I couldn’t ask for a more exceptional cast to bring this story to life,” said Hamm.

Beta Cinema, which represents worldwide sales rights while WME Independent handles domestic rights, will debut a first sales teaser to buyers at the AFM next week.

Hamm wrote the screenplay, adapting German writer Friedrich Schiller’s 1804 classic play of the same name.

The narrative unfolds in the 14th Century in the final days of the Holy Roman Empire where Europe’s nations vie for supremacy and the ambitious Austrians, desiring more land, set their sights on Switzerland, a serene and pastoral nation.

Protagonist William Tell, a formerly peaceful hunter, finds himself forced to take action as his family and homeland come under threat from the oppressive Austrian King and his ruthless warlords.

“Tell’s story has a relevance and immediacy that is strikingly contemporary. The Apple Scene in particular has gripped the world’s imagination for hundreds of years and yet has never been dramatized in modern cinema,” said Hamm, referring to the iconic scene in which the king challenges Tell to shoot an apple off the head of his son.

William Tell is a Free Turn (Hamm’s production company with brother Jon Hamm) and Tempo production with Rome-based Groenlandia, in association with DNeg Films supported by the IDM Film Fund.

The film is produced by Tempo founder Piers Tempest (The Wife, Emily) and perfume heiress and businesswoman Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich, who executive produced Hamm’s last film Gigi & Nate.  Executive producers include Jon Hamm, David Nichols and Francesco Marras.

“The legend of William Tell represents the values of freedom and independence to so many in my home country of Switzerland. I am therefore honoured and delighted to have the opportunity to share this story with audiences around the world,” said Jaeger-Firmenich.

The crew features Jamie Ramsay (Living, See How They Run), Academy-Award nominated editor Tariq Anwar (The King’s Speech, American Beauty) and Diyan Hristov, as the second unit director Diyan Hristov (Dungeons & Dragons, Hellboy).

Costume design is by Francesca Sartori (Il Mestiere delle Armi, Alatriste), and production design by Tonino Zera (Caravaggio’s Shadow). Lauren Evans and Avy Kaufman are the casting directors. Redefine, a division of celebrated VFX house Double Negative are handling Visual Effects.

Willam Tell is one of the biggest film projects ever handled by Beta Cinema.

“Coming from a team of highly successful producers, helmed by acclaimed director Nick Hamm and studded with a top-class cast right down to the smallest roles, we are thrilled to add this universal, action-loaded and inspiring project to our line-up,” said Tassilo Hallbauer, Head of Sales and Acquisitions at Beta Cinema.

“The legend of Tell, his crossbow and the apple is known all over the world. We now want to bring the story behind the saga into cinemas around the globe.”

Further cast include Solly McLeod, Amar Chadha-Patel, Sam Keeley, Jake Dunn and Tobias Jowett.

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