Blitz | |
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Directed by | Steve McQueen |
Written by | Steve McQueen |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Yorick Le Saux |
Edited by | Peter Sciberras |
Music by | Hans Zimmer |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Apple TV+ |
Release dates |
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Countries |
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Language | English |
Blitz is an upcoming historical drama written and directed by Steve McQueen and starring Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan in his film debut, Harris Dickinson, Erin Kellyman, Stephen Graham and Paul Weller.
Blitz is scheduled to premiere as the opening film at the BFI London Film Festival on October 9, 2024, followed by a theatrical release in select theatres on November 1 and a streaming release on Apple TV+ on November 22.
The film is set in London during World War II. The synopsis reads, "George, defiant and determined to return home to Rita and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, ensues on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son." [1]
In October 2021, it was announced that McQueen would write, direct and produce a new feature film titled Blitz for New Regency, with Lammas Park producing alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films. [2] In March 2022, McQueen confirmed his next project was going to be about Londoners during the Blitz of World War II and that he had discussed this with Anne, the Princess Royal, as she had awarded him his knighthood at Windsor Castle. [3] In June 2022, it was announced that Apple TV+ had picked up the distribution rights. Producers are New Regency's Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer. [4]
In September 2022, it was announced that Saoirse Ronan would be heading the cast and Adam Stockhausen leading the production design. [5] In December 2022, Harris Dickinson, Erin Kellyman, Stephen Graham and Kathy Burke were added to the cast, along with singer-songwriter Paul Weller in his feature film acting debut. [6] Later that month, Benjamin Clementine, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, CJ Beckford, Hayley Squires and Sally Messham was announced in additional acting roles. [7]
Principal photography began in London in November 2022. [8] Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden was used as a base. [9] In January 2023, filming took place close to the London Waterloo station. Later that month, special effect crews simulated bombs hitting the water in the River Thames in Wapping. Filming also took place in the London borough of Greenwich. [10] In February 2023, reports were that the production moved to Hull's old town with a filming schedule of two weeks. [11]
Blitz is scheduled to premiere as the opening film at the BFI London Film Festival held at the Royal Festival Hall on October 9, 2024, McQueen's third directorial effort to do so after 2018's Widows and 2020's Mangrove , which was part of his Small Axe anthology. The film will then be theatrically released in select theatres on November 1, 2024, before streaming on Apple TV+ on November 22. [12]
Sir Steve Rodney McQueen is a British film director, film producer, screenwriter, and video artist. For services to the visual arts, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2011. In 2014, he was included in Time magazine's annual Time 100 list of the "most influential people in the world". He has received an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and in 2016 the BFI Fellowship.
Working Title Films Limited is a British film studio that produces motion pictures and television programs and is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, a division of NBCUniversal, which is itself a division of Comcast. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. Bevan and Eric Fellner are now the co-chairmen of the company.
Regency Enterprises is an American-British-Luxembourgish entertainment company formed by Arnon Milchan. It was founded in 1982 as the successor to Regency International Pictures.
Saoirse Una Ronan is an American-born Irish actress. Primarily known for her work in period dramas since adolescence, she has received various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for four Academy Awards and five British Academy Film Awards.
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Harris Dickinson is an English actor. He began his career in British television and had his first starring role in the drama film Beach Rats (2017), for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. He played John Paul Getty III in the FX drama series Trust (2018).
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