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The actor is set to portray Emperor Charles V in Lee Tamahori’s “Emperor”; Also announces the launch of his own production company and its debut production.
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Cannes news: Corsan World Sales announced yesterday that Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody will be portraying 16th century Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in “Empreror”, a revenge tale helmed by “Once Were Warriors” director Lee Tamahori, set to begin shooting this August.
The saga of the ruler who held power over a European court of conspiracy, excess and debauchery was written by screenwriter Michael Thomas (“The Hunger”, “Scandal”, Tamahori’s “The Devil’s Double”) and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher (“The Dutchess”). Principle photography will be in the Czech Republic and Belgium.
Brody and Corsan previously worked together on “Third Person”, a film by Paul Haggis set to be released in June by Sony Pictures Classics.
“I have long admired Lee’s work and a true fan since he blew me away with Once Were Warriors, ” said Brody in a statement. “When Lee approached me to play the role of Charles V – a man with great power, and greater flaws – whose demons took his empire to the brink – I felt compelled to accept the challenge. I am also pleased to have the opportunity to work with Paul and Corsan again after the great, creative experience we shared together on Third Person.”
“With Adrien and Lee Tamahori in place, we are attracting a very talented group of American and International actors, who we will announce shortly, for this sweeping film that will have world wide appeal, ” said producer Paul Breuls of Corsan.
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In addition to Corsan’s announcement, Brody, currently in Cannes, announced the launch of his own production company, Fable House Ltd, which the actor says has $50 million in development and production funding, in backing from Nigerian and Chinese investors.
Nigerian entrepreneur Kola Aluko and Sparkle Roll Culture Media, a Beijing-based production group, 50 percent owned by Jackie Chan, will be partners in the company.
“Fable House will provide a doorway to imagination, ” Brody said in a statement. “Our objectives are simple: to make the kinds of films that don’t often get made, to play a larger role as storyteller, and to help filmmakers with a unique vision to have a voice.”
Brody will produce all the company’s films and star in select titles, with “Manhattan Nocturne”, a murder mystery which was first unveiled at the European Film Market in Berlin in January, being its debut release.
The film, based on a novel by Colin Harrison and directed by Brian DeCubellis, will star Brody, Yvonne Strahovski (“Dexter”, “24”) and Campbell Scott (“Big Night”, “Roger Dodger”), and tell the tale of a journalist who investigates an unsolved murder on behalf of the murdered man’s widow. Shooting is set to begin this fall.
Adrien Brody was born in 1973 to a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. Taking acting classes as a child, by age thirteen he appeared in an Off-Broadway play and a PBS television film. He made his theatrical debut in 1989’s anthology film, “New York Stories”.
In 1998, he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his role as Chris Calloway in “Restaurant”, and later earned praise for his roles in Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam” and Terrence Malick’s “The Thin Red Line”.
In 2002, Brody won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist”, making him, at 29, the youngest actor ever to win the award. He also won a César Award for his performance.
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