Firebrand – The new drama starring Alica Vikander and Jude Law begins principal photography

Principal photography has begun on Firebrand, where Academy award-winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl, Ex-Machina) is set to play Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII’s six wives. Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts, The Nest) will play Henry VIII. Cast members joining Vikander and Law include Erin Doherty (The Crown, Chloe) as Anne Askew, Simon Russell Beale (Operation Mincemeat, Benediction) as Bishop Stephen Gardiner and Sam Riley (Rebecca, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) and Eddie Marsan (The Gentlemen, Vice) who will play Thomas and Edward Seymour. Further casting includes Ruby Bentall (Poldark), Bryony Hannah (Call The Midwife) and Maia Jemmett. Olivier award-winning Patsy Ferran will play Princess Mary and Junia Rees will make her acting debut as Princess Elizabeth.

The film marks the English-language debut of Karim Aïnouz and is produced by Gabrielle Tana (The Dig) of Brouhaha Entertainment and written by Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth (Killing Eve).

Aïnouz’s recent films include Invisible Life, which won the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes in 2019 and documentary Central Airport THF, about Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, which won the Amnesty International award at the Berlinale in 2018. His latest film Mariner Of The Mountains premiered in Cannes 2021.

Further creatives involved in FIREBRAND include Academy award-winning Hair and Make Up Designer Jenny Shircore (Elizabeth), Academy award-winning Costume Designer Michael O’Connor (The Duchess) and BAFTA award-winning Production Designer Helen Scott (Small Axe). Following her collaboration with Aïnouz on Invisible Life, the Director of Photography will be Hélène Louvart. The casting director was Nina Gold (The Power of The Dog).

Executive producers are Maria Logan of MBK Productions Ltd and Anne Sheehan. The producers are Gabrielle Tana and Carolyn Marks Blackwood.

FilmNation Entertainment handled international sales. STXfilms will distribute the film in the UK, France and Benelux. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions will distribute in Germany, Greece, Iceland, Middle East, Scandinavia, Turkey, all of Asia (excluding Japan), Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Other territories sold include Switzerland (Elite Film AG), Israel (Lev Cinemas) and Spain, Italy and LATAM (Vertice Cine).