Wednesday 24 Sep 2014
Filming will commence this month on Page Eight, David Hare's first original screenplay for 20 years, a contemporary spy thriller for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two starring Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Judy Davis, Michael Gambon and Ralph Fiennes.
Page Eight, which is to be screened on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two later this year, is both written and directed by Oscar nominee David Hare and produced by David Heyman and David Barron. The film is a co-production between Carnival Films (Downton Abbey, Any Human Heart, Whitechapel), Heyday Films (the Harry Potter series, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, I Am Legend) and Runaway Fridge (the Harry Potter series, Possession).
Also joining the stellar cast are Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting, Snatch, Black Hawk Down), Felicity Jones (The Tempest, Northanger Abbey, Brideshead Revisited), Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll), Alice Krige (Skin, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Star Trek – First Contact, Chariots Of Fire) and Saskia Reeves (Close My Eyes, A Christmas Carol, Butterfly Kiss).
Johnny Worricker (Nighy) is a long-serving M15 officer. His boss and best friend, Benedict Baron (Gambon), dies suddenly, leaving behind him an inexplicable file which threatens the stability of the organisation.
Meanwhile, a seemingly chance encounter with Johnny's striking next-door neighbour and political activist, Nancy Pierpan (Weisz), seems too good to be true. Johnny is forced to walk out of his job and then out of his identity to find out the truth.
David Hare says: "The last decade has been as testing as any in the history of the British intelligence community – the compromises and dilemmas they've faced in the new century make a fascinating story. I'm thrilled to be working with such an extraordinary ensemble of great actors."
Best known as a prolific and award-winning playwright (Plenty, Racing Demon, Skylight and The Vertical Hour), David Hare is also an Oscar-nominated screenwriter (The Reader, The Hours). As the writer-director of Wetherby, he won the Berlin Golden Bear in 1985.
NBC Universal will distribute the film worldwide.
Gareth Neame (Carnival), Christine Langan (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films), Scott Rudin and Bill Nighy are executive producers on Page Eight. Rosie Alison (Is Anybody There, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas) and Celia Duval (Margot, Christopher & His Kind) will co-produce. Martin Ruhe (The American, Control, Harry Brown) is director of photography.
Page Eight was commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, and Ben Stephenson, Controller Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama Commissioning.
Ben Stephenson says: "David Hare's return to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ with this gripping spy thriller and star-studded cast is indicative of the quality and ambition of the drama you will see on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two in 2011, following the great start to the year for the channel with the record breaking Eric And Ernie."
MO
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Β© 2014 The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.