Horrible Shakespeare

This press release hit my in-box earlier today and I'm soo looking forward to it. I am a fan of the BBC series that the stars are from.

STARS OF BBC’S HORRIBLE HISTORIES TO MAKE SHAKESPEARE COMEDY FILM

Monday 13th May, London. BBC Films is bringing the BAFTA-winning stars of hit BBC kids show ‘Horrible Histories’ to the big screen in BILL, a new comedy film about Shakespeare - or how Bill became William.

Shooting later this year in the UK, BILL is a Cowboy Films / Punk Cinema production for BBC Films and stars the six lead ‘Horrible Histories’ cast - Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond. All will play multiple roles in BILL, in the style of the Python films.

BILL is an original script by Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond, developed with BBC Films and Richard Bracewell (The Gigolos), who will direct. Producers are Charles Steel at Cowboy Films (The Last King of Scotland, How I Live Now) and Tony Bracewell and Richard Bracewell at Punk Cinema. Joe Oppenheimer at BBC Films will executive produce.

BILL tells the story of how hopeless lute player Bill Shakespeare leaves his family and home to follow his dream. It’s a tale of murderous kings, spies, lost loves, and a plot to blow up Queen Elizabeth. Can one man prove the quill is mightier than the sword?

Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond said: “BILL is a comedy adventure for all the family. We're playing with history, just as Shakespeare did, for the entertainment of the audience. And we like to think he'd be OK with it. Apart from the bit where he's dressed as a tomato."

“We’re thrilled that BBC Films is making the first film starring this team of incredibly talented and popular British comedy writers and performers,” comments Christine Langan, Head of BBC Films. “‘Horrible Histories’ has been a terrific success and is hugely popular with both kids and their parents. BILL will be a film for all the family to enjoy with original British talent telling a very funny story about Shakespeare.”

Will will get there

With a new trailer and still with the spine cringly auful cameros by Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard. The old trailer can be seen over here. We also get a look at a new poster. This is a lot better than the one that we have seen before.

Eleven-year-old Will Brennan’s (Perry Eggleton) life is turned upside down when his long-absent father (Damian Lewis) reappears with tickets to the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul. But when fate intervenes, Will runs away to Istanbul for the biggest soccer match of the year, searching for meaning in a world that seems to have abandoned him.

Hitting UK cinemas November 4, 2011
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Will gets to the match

Yesterday saw me post a "trailer" and an image for the upcoming film, Will. That one seems to be a "showreel" more than a trailer as it runs for about 4 minutes and gives quite a lot of the plot away...

Now, Vertigo has sent over the UK trailer and it's great. I can't say much more than I know why Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard should stay playing football and not start acting!

Eleven-year-old Will Brennan’s (Perry Eggleton) life is turned upside down when his long-absent father (Damian Lewis) reappears with tickets to the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul. But when fate intervenes, Will runs away to Istanbul for the biggest soccer match of the year, searching for meaning in a world that seems to have abandoned him.

Hitting UK cinemas October 21, 2011
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Will you be able to get to the match?

London – 08 August 2011 – Vertigo Films are proud to announce the wide UK theatrical release of WILL. This much anticipated film that tells the story of a young boy’s emotional journey across Europe to watch the football team that he loves will be released in the UK on the 21st of October.

Eleven-year-old Will Brennan’s (Perry Eggleton) life is turned upside down when his long-absent father (Damian Lewis) reappears with tickets to the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul. But when fate intervenes, Will runs away to Istanbul for the biggest soccer match of the year, searching for meaning in a world that seems to have abandoned him.

Starring Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, and Showtime’s upcoming Homeland), Bob Hoskins (A Christmas Carol, Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and Alice Krige (Chariots of Fire, Star Trek: First Contact) this heartfelt underdog story also features cameos by Liverpool Football Club manager Kenny Dalglish, and superstar footballers Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

The Chief Executive of GalataFilm, Taha Altayli, said, "We're excited to be working with Vertigo which had two Oscar nominated films last year. We know that Vertigo's expertise will find the audience and acclaim that this fabulous family film deserves."

WILL is a co-production between Istanbul based GalataFilm and LA/UK-based Strangelove Films and is an original screenplay by Zack Anderson and Ellen Perry. It is also the feature directorial debut film of the Emmy-nominated Perry. Her fellow producers include Altayli and Anderson, Stewart Till, Stephen Moffitt, Mustafa Karahan, Muharrem Gulmez, Timothy Nicholas and Mark Cooper.

I have found a trailer. I'm not sure if this is a US or international trailer ...

Hitting UK cinemas October 21, 2011

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