John Hurt Faces Death in ‘That Good Night’ (EXCLUSIVE)

John Hurt is attached to star in bittersweet drama “That Good Night,” in which he plays a once-famous screenwriter facing death. The film, which GSP Studios Intl. is selling in Berlin, is based on N.J. Crisp’s 1996 stage play of the same name.

Hurt’s character has two final wishes in life: to be reconciled with his long-lost son, and to ensure he doesn’t become a burden on his wife by hiring a mysterious “visitor” to help him pass painlessly into “that good night,” to quote Dylan Thomas’ poem. However, his wishes do not go to plan.

Eric Styles (“Dreaming of Joseph Lees,” “Relative Values”) will direct from a script by Charles Savage. It will be produced by Savage and GSP Studios’ Alan Latham, who was the producer of the original play.

The film starts to shoot in March across locations on the Algarve coastline of Portugal as well as at GSP’s studio facilities in Yorkshire, England. Additional casting is expected to be announced shortly.

Hurt said: “I very much looking forward to putting all the jigsaw pieces together that make up this fascinating and paradoxical character.”

Latham commented: “ ‘That Good Night’ is a passion project of mine and I’m very proud to bring N.J. Crisp’s stage play, that I produced 20 years ago, to the big screen. John Hurt is one of Britain’s finest actors, and we’re delighted to have him on board in bringing this touching story to life.”

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