Hall, West, Staunton Awakening in June

by Naman Ramachandran

25/05/2010 - Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona [trailer]), Dominic West (Centurion) and Imelda Staunton (Another Year [trailer, film focus]) headline the cast of Nick Murphy's debut feature The Awakening, set for a UK shoot in June.

David Thompson, whose Origin Pictures developed the supernatural thriller with BBC Films, will produce and StudioCanal Features will be the lead financier, alongside BBC Films and Scottish Screen. BBC Films’ Joe Oppenheimer, and Optimum's Will Clarke and Jenny Borgars, are Executive Producers.

Written by Murphy and Stephen Volk, The Awakening is set in 1921, in a post-war world of loss where the bereaved seek solace in spiritualism.

According to Thompson, “This is a riveting and very original script and we are thrilled that it is to be directed by Nick Murphy as his first feature. He is an outstanding director with a really strong vision for this project.”

Christine Langan, Creative Director, BBC Films, said, “Nick Murphy’s thoughtful approach to the genre promises a movie as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. The Awakening is a perfect complement to a diverse British slate at BBC Films, alongside, amongst others, Vertigo’s Streetdance 3D, Stephen Frears’ Tamara Drewe [trailer] and Nigel Cole’s Made in Dagenham – all released this year.”

Optimum CEO Will Clarke said, “The combination of Nick’s talent, the excellent cast and a recognised genre is a great recipe for success. With Rowan Joffe's Brighton Rock in post production, Joe Cornish's Attack the Block shooting, and the launch of The Awakening, our ambitious production plans are in great shape.”

StudioCanal are handling worldwide sales.