BLACK PALACE

Left to right: Kodi Smit-McPhee (Photo: Jared Eng), Freya Allen (Photo: Rebecca Miller) and Nick Hamm (Photo: Lorenzo Pesce)

Production has commenced on the eagerly anticipated Black Palace, directed by BAFTA winning Director Nick Hamm (WILLIAM TELL, DRIVEN, THE HOLE) and represented for worldwide sales by New Regency.

Black Palace, written by Jon Croker (NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE and Academy Award © winning THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX & THE HORSE) is a twisted romantic drama and female survival story. In the Autumn of 1888, as the emerging tabloid media terrify the public with lurid stories of Jack the Ripper, a young woman is sent to work at the heart of Queen Victoria’s British Empire: Buckingham Palace. Her task is to spy on Victoria’s wayward grandson who keeps disappearing at night. As she grows closer to the Prince, traversing a maze of privilege and poverty, she uncovers secrets which threaten both the Crown and her own survival.

Currently shooting in the UK, the film boasts an impressive cast including Freya Allan (KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, THE WITCHER), Academy Award © nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee (THE POWER OF THE DOG), Joe Anders (CAPE FEAR), Raffey Cassidy (THE BRUTALIST), Iain Glen (GAME OF THRONES) with Martin Clunes (WUTHERING HEIGHTS) and Juliet Stevenson (TRULY MADLY DEEPLY ).

Black Palace is produced by Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich (WILLIAM TELL), BAFTA Nominee Piers Tempest (I SWEAR), Academy Award© nominee Mark Huffam (THE MARTIAN) and Nick Hamm. Hannah Shipley and Will Matthews co-produce, executive producers are Jeremy Bolt and Jon Croker.

Black Palace boasts a stellar line-up of department heads, including BIFA winning cinematographer Jamie Ramsay (ALL OF US ARE STRANGERS), Emmy and BAFTA nominated costume designer Joanna Eatwell (VENOM), Academy Award© nominated hair and make-up designer Karen Hartley (GOLDA) Academy Award© nominated production designer Peter Francis (THE FATHER) and Emmy winning editor Yan Miles (THE CROWN). Academy Award © winner Steven Price (GRAVITY) is the composer and  DNEG are on board for Visual effects.

Director Nick Hamm comments, “Independent cinema is thriving in Europe, we’re finding original stories that are connecting with our audience. I haven’t had the privilege of shooting in the UK for many years and the experience has been fantastic: a committed cast and crew and a great screenplay by Jon Croker, which is audacious and disturbing. What more could a director want? ”

Black Palace is financed by SIMIA Productions SA as the first of a multi picture deal with Hamm 4 and Tempo. SIMIA Principal Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich says; “The film is about the nature of power and what you choose to do with it – which is especially relevant today. We are very happy to be working with the team on this film and I am thrilled with how the shoot is going”.

Samantha Cameron-Mowat, SVP, Co-Head of International Distribution at New Regency, commented; 

“We are delighted to be part of this compelling feature film. Nick, Piers, Marie-Christine, Mark and the team have assembled an exceptional cast, both in front of and behind the camera. We are confident that this thrilling story of love, deceit and murder set against the contrasting backdrops of glamorous society and the stark realities of Victorian London, will resonate with audiences worldwide.”