EXCLUSIVE: Lily James (Disney’s Cinderella) and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games) are circling to star in Lone Scherfig’s Their Finest Hour And A Half. James, currently filming Burr Steer’s Pride And Prejudice And Zombies, is one of Britain’s hottest young actresses and is also attached to the plum role of Natasha in The Weinstein Company’s War And Peace miniseries.
Their Finest Hour And A Half, based on Lissa Evans’ 2009 novel that was nominated for Britain’s prestigious Orange literary prize, follows the misadventures of a British movie crew trying to make a patriotic film to boost morale after the Blitz during World War II. TV writer Gabby Chiappe is adapting. Principal photography is set for summer 2015.
The prestige picture is being produced by Wild Gaze’s Amanda Posey (A Long Way Down) and longtime associate Stephen Wooley (Byzantium) through his Number 9 Films. The pair previously made the original Fever Pitch together. BBC Films is also a partner on the project, which will be shopped to buyers next month at AFM.
Claflin would be reteaming with Scherfig after appearing in the ensemble The Riot Club which is now rolling out overseas. He will next be seen starring opposite Lily Collins in Christian Ditter’s Love, Rosie, which plays at the Rome Film Festival that kicks off this week.
James is repped by Tavistock Wood and Claflin by Independent Talent Group.
