Joe Wright

First Look at Joe Wright’s ANNA KARENINA Starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 23rd, 2012 at 8:40 am

The first images from Joe Wright‘s adaptation of Anna Karenina have gone online.  The adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel stars Keira Knightley as the eponymous protagonist, and the film co-stars Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, and Ruth Wilson.  As he proved with Pride and Prejudice, Wright doesn’t do boring period pieces.  He does remarkable unbroken takes, and when Wright’s paired with a strong script, he’s unstoppable.  I’ve never read Anna Karenina, but I’m excited to see what Wright has in store.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The film is due out in the UK on September 7th and we should expect the US release around the same time.

HANNA DVD Review

by Max Lichtig    Posted: November 1st, 2011 at 6:11 am

The first word I would use to describe Hanna would of course be basdass. Taking what Chloe Grace Moretz accomplished in Kick-Ass to a whole new level of insane, director Joe Wright pushes the little-girl assassin sub-genre into a way more mature and refined world, and everything is simply stunning. The fight choreography is tight and visceral, the editing is sharp and precise, and the music/sound editing collaborates perfectly with the story. Along with very affecting cinematography and enchanting acting throughout, Hanna is easily one of my favorite films of the year.  To check out my review of the DVD hit the jump.

Focus Features to Distribute Joe Wright’s ANNA KARENINA Starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law; Filming Begins in UK and Russia This Month

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 8th, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Director Joe Wright’s (Hanna) adaptation of the classic Leo Tolstoy novel Anna Karenina is gearing up for production. Focus Features will distribute the drama, which is set to star Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Emily Watson, and Domhnall Gleeson.  The tragic love story follows Knightley as the title character, and the official synopsis is as follows:

The story unfolds in its original late-19^th-century Russia high-society setting and powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart, from the passion between adulterers to the bond between a mother and her children. As Anna (Ms. Knightley) questions her happiness, change comes to her family, friends, and community.

The film is set to begin production later this month in the U.K. and Russia, with an eye towards a fall/winter 2012 release date. Hit the jump to read the full press release.

Casting Call: Matthew Macfadyen Joins Joe Wright’s ANNA KARENINA, Patricia Arquette Signs on to GLUTTON, and Adhir Kalyan Joins Indie SAMARITAN

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 3rd, 2011 at 1:48 pm

We’ve got a few casting stories for you today. First up, Matthew Macfadyen (The Three Musketeers) has joined the cast of director Joe Wright’s (Hanna) adaptation of Anna Karenina. The Daily Mail (via Dark Horizons) reports that Macfadyen replaces Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of Oblonsky in the film version of Leo Tolstoy’s classic tragic love story. In addition to Macfadyen, Olivia Williams, Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Risebourough have joined the cast as well. Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson and Kelly Macdonald are set to star in the Tom Stoppard-scripted (Shakespeare in Love) flick. Filming is set to begin this fall.

Next up, Patricia Arquette has joined the cast of brother David’s directing vehicle Glutton. The psychological thriller stars Abraham Benrubi (ER) as a 1,200 pound bedridden man. Arquette and Kacey Barnfield play the two female leads in the 3D flick. Variety reports that Arquette will play the man’s sister, while Barnfield will take on the role of a blind neighbor. Hit the jump for the casting of Adhir Kalyan in the indie film Samaritan as well as a synopsis of the book Anna Karenina.

Video Interview: Director Joe Wright Talks HANNA, 3D, Film vs. Digital, The Chemical Brothers and Karaoke

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 7th, 2011 at 5:23 pm

With director Joe Wright’s action/survival film Hanna opening tomorrow, I recently got to speak with him at the Los Angeles press junket.  While I loved Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, I was definitely let down by his last film, The Soloist.  Thankfully, Hanna is a fantastic movie filled with amazing performances and an awesome soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers.  While some directors work in the same genre again and again, Wright has shown that he has the skills to work in any genre.  For more on the film, here’s a bunch of clips and our write up from WonderCon.

During the interview we talked about film vs. digital and why, 3D, how did he get The Chemical Brothers to do the score, does he read online sites, why does he do sych long takes (says it has to do with the budget), and I asked what’s his go to karaoke song.  Hit the jump to watch.

Saoirse Ronan Video Interview HANNA

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 6th, 2011 at 9:04 pm

With director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) action/survival film Hanna opening this weekend, I recently got to speak with most of the cast.  Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old trained assassin (Ronan) whose perpetual fleeing an intelligence agent takes her across Europe. Like I said when I posted the clips, I thought Hanna was fantastic and Ronan gives an amazing performance.  In addition, the music by The Chemical Brothers fits the movie perfectly.  Definitely recommended.

During my interview with Ronan, we talked about the challenges of this role and how she prepared, if she could go back to any of the places they filmed where would she go and why, what’s her karaoke song, and more.  Hit the jump to watch.

WonderCon 2011: HANNA Presentation

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 2nd, 2011 at 5:20 pm

After seeing the fantastic footage from Green Lantern and Cowboys and Aliens earlier today and yesterday, I was afraid that all the other presentations at WonderCon would pale in comparison. However, when I sat down for the Hanna panel, I found out I was dead wrong. Hit the jump for my thoughts on the footage and panel from the Hanna presentation.

5 Clips from HANNA Starring Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: March 27th, 2011 at 4:46 pm

Focus Features has given us 5 clips from director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) action/survival film Hanna. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old trained assassin (Ronan) whose perpetual fleeing an intelligence agent takes her across Europe. While I’m embargoed from saying too much, I don’t think Focus will be upset if I tell you I thought Hanna was fantastic.  Also, the music by The Chemical Brothers fits the movie perfectly.  I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for the past few days almost nonstop.  Definitely recommended.

Hit the jump to check out the clips. The film opens on April 8^th.

21 High Resolution Images from Joe Wright’s HANNA

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: March 21st, 2011 at 2:55 pm

With director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) Hanna opening April 8, Focus Features has released the full press kit and included are 21 high resolution images.  Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old trained assassin (Ronan) whose perpetual fleeing an intelligence agent takes her across Europe.  Hit the jump for all the images and the full synopsis.  Also, you can check out the trailer or the international trailer by hitting the links.

Aaron Johnson Offered Lead in Oliver Stone’s SAVAGES; Johnson and Jude Law in Talks for Joe Wright’s ANNA KARENINA

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 17th, 2011 at 6:29 pm

Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after young actors at the moment, Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) has been offered the lead role in two high-profile projects. First up, Deadline reports that Johnson is mulling over one of the two lead roles in director Oliver Stone’s adaptation of the Don Winslow novel Savages. The flick tells the story of two pot-growers whose shared girlfriend gets kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel. Jennifer Lawrence was in talks to take on the role of the girlfriend, but her attachment to The Hunger Games throws her involvement into jeopardy given that both flicks will be shooting this summer.

Variety reports that Johnson and Jude Law are in talks to star in director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic tragic love story Anna Karenina. Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love) wrote the screenplay and Keira Knightley is set to star. Anna Karenina will shoot this fall, so Johnson could feasibly do both films. Hit the jump for a synopsis of both novels.

Director Joe Wright Talks ANNA KARENINA; Tom Stoppard Writing the Script; Hints Keira Knightley Will Star

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 9th, 2011 at 7:48 am

Director Joe Wright is currently doing press for his upcoming film Hanna, an action-thriller which looks like a big departure from his breakthrough film, 2005′s Pride & Prejudice.  However, Wright isn’t leaving the world of classic literature adaptations behind as he tells About.com that he hopes to shoot Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina in the fall.  But how does he hope to translate the 864-page tome into a feature film?  Wright says it’s no problem when you’ve got Oscar-winning screenwriter Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love) working on the script:

“He’s done an amazing script which involves Levin’s story as well as Anna’s story. Yeah, Tom Stoppard is just..also, he’s so immersed in Russian history and culture and identity or lack of it.”

Hit the jump for Wright’s explanation of how he plans to make 19th-century Russian family accessible to today’s audiences and who he sees as Anna.

Sony Pictures Courting Colin Firth for MY FAIR LADY

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 18th, 2011 at 10:13 am

Colin Firth is currently one of the most in-demand actors in town. Being the stand-out frontrunner for a Best Actor Oscar will do that to you. Now it appears that Sony Pictures is keen on nabbing Firth for their remake of the 1964 musical classic My Fair Lady. In a pitch-perfect casting move, Carey Mulligan has long been attached to take on the role of Eliza Doolittle, with Joe Wright (Atonement) set to direct the film from a screenplay by Emma Thompson (the actress also wrote Sense and Sensibility).

The report, filed by The Daily Mail, states that Sony Pictures originally brushed Firth aside in favor of casting Hugh Grant as ol’ ‘Enry ‘Iggins, with the producers insisting that Firth was their man. Thankfully, Sony relented, and now only wants to make the film with Firth. The actor is sure to be vetting a flurry of offers now that his brilliant turn in The King’s Speech is getting so much attention (but let’s be honest, the guy’s been brilliant for a long time now). I say the pairing of Firth and Mulligan for My Fair Lady is spot on. Here’s hoping it works out.

Girls With Guns: New Posters for HANNA and MEEK’S CUTOFF

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 15th, 2011 at 7:57 pm

You don’t want to mess the women featured on tonight’s set of posters.  Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) plays a young girl trained by her ex-CIA father (Eric Bana) to be the perfect assassin in Hanna, directed by Joe Wright (Atonement).  Ronan upgrades from bow and arrow on the first poster for Hanna to a cocked handgun.

The weapon technology wielded by Michelle Williams lies somewhere in between, with a shotgun pointed about three people to the left of us (phew) to promote Meek’s Cutoff.  The western is set in 1845, the earliest days of the Oregon Trail: Williams is among three families that hire Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood) to lead them on a troubled journey over the Cascade Mountains.  Kelly Reichardt (Wendy and Lucy) directs.

Hit the jump to view both posters in full, along with the official synopsis.

International Trailer for HANNA

by Jason Barr    Posted: February 3rd, 2011 at 3:30 pm

An international trailer for director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) action/survival film Hanna is now available online.  Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old trained assassin (Ronan) whose perpetual fleeing an intelligence agent takes her across Europe.  The film’s original trailer landed on Matt’s Top 10 of 2010 list and this international trailer keeps the violent action rolling while being set against what sounds like a very cool original score from The Chemical Brothers.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer for yourself.  In addition to cast members previously mentioned, Hanna also stars Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, and Michelle Dockery.  The film opens stateside on April 8th.

New Posters for BATTLE: LOS ANGELES, HANNA and SOURCE CODE

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pm

An international poster for Jonathan Liebesman’s Battle: Los Angeles (titled World Invasion abroad) has landed online alongside a couple of new posters from Joe Wright’s (Atonement) Hanna and Duncan Jones’ (Moon) Source Code.  In case you’re new to the film, Battle: Los Angeles stars Aaron Eckhart as a Marine who must lead his team against an ongoing alien invasion.  Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, and Michael Pena also star.  Hanna, starring Cate Blanchett and Saoirse Ronan, features Ronan as a 16-year-old assassin who is being tracked across Europe by an intelligence agent.  Eric Bana also stars as Ronan’s father/ex-CIA employee/assassin instructor.  Finally, Source Code stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monahgan, and Vera Farmiga and tells the story of a soldier (Gyllenhaal) who wakes up in the body of a stranger and finds he is part of an elaborate plan designed to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

To check out each of the three posters, hit the jump.  Battle: Los Angeles opens March 11th while the other two films premiere only a week apart with Source Code debuting April 1st and Hanna hitting theaters on April 8th.

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