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Thursday, October 8, 2015

Henry To Play Special Forces Captain In War Drama 'Sand Castle'


Deadline just broke the news that Henry is joining his Immortals costar, Luke Evans, and Nicholas Hoult in 'Sand Castle.'

The drama is being directed by Fernando Coimbra (Narcos) based on the screenplay by Chris Roessner, with filming set to begin November 2.  Mark Gordon is producing with Treehouse Pictures’ Justin Nappi and 42’s Ben Pugh.



Here's more via Deadline:

Set in Iraq circa 2003, the pic is based on Roessner’s experience as a machine gunner in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle. The plot centers on Matt Ocre (Hoult), who is part of a mission to repair a broken water system in the dangerous and unstable Iraqi village of Baqubah. While the people of Baghdad welcome the Americans as saviors, the villagers resist their presence and Matt and his unit must try to convince the community that they are part of the solution, not the problem, in order to save the town and get out alive. Evans is playing the sergeant in charge of Ocre’s unit and Cavill is the special forces captain running the operation in Baqubah.

Voltage Pictures is handling international sales for the film and will present it at next month’s American Film Market. Producers hold U.S. rights to the pic, which Gordon has shepherded from the start. Treehouse (Arbitrage, All Is Lost) is fully financing. Brian Kavanaugh-Jones is executive producer.

“It took little convincing for me to come on board to produce this extraordinary and gripping film which so accurately depicts the intricacies of real people in extreme circumstances,” says Nappi. “I am excited about our amazing lead cast who, in the hands of our masterful director Fernando, will deliver the most powerful performances of their careers. Nicholas, Luke and Henry are a dream team, as are my fellow producers Mark and Ben.”

Gordon added, “Chris was my assistant and we worked on the script together for some time. It’s very exciting to see the movie come together with a wonderfully talented director and an amazing cast.”

The Hollywood Reporter adds a bit more about the screenplay's origin:

The film chronicles the story of Roessner's two years and more than 200 missions as a machine gunner in Iraq's Sunni Triangle. The story centers on Matt Ocre (Hoult) and the leader of his platoon, Sergeant Baker, as they attempt to protect Baqubah, a dangerous farming village.

Hoult has been attached to the project since early last year. At the time, THR also shared a bit more about the company producing the film:

The Mark Gordon Company is no stranger to war-themed films, having produced The Messenger and Saving Private Ryan as well as the TV series Army Wives. The company's TV credits also include Grey's Anatomy, Ray Donovan and Private Practice.


As for the writer, Roessner's script cracked the 2012 Black List of top unproduced screenplays. This past July he did an in-depth interview with the Pat Tillman Foundation, where he talks about writing the screenplay:

“At the time, I wasn’t writing it for my career, but rather just to keep myself sane. I didn’t expect there to be any grand attention garnered for it. Anything that continues to happen with this screenplay is still a big surprise to me. My initial impulse to write it was to get it out and say ‘I have all of this stuff, memories and experiences stored up inside me.’ If I wasn’t a screenwriter, I would have written a novel or something else; screenwriting is my natural way of interacting with the world though – so that’s how Sand Castle manifested. There was also the desire to hold on to some of the memories and tiny little moments that had happened in Iraq as time goes on – and I didn’t want to lose those. While I was in Iraq there were awful and beautiful moments, and I wanted to have a document so I wouldn’t lose those memories. At the same time, my screenplay was a big pie in the sky dream.”

Roessner also mentioned he would be in Jordan in September for pre-production of Sand Castle. -- Now things could have changed since July, but it looks like that's at least one of the places where they will be filming. UPDATE: Jordan it is! (and the scriptwriter has a sense of humor).
UPDATE #2: The director added a bit more..
This project sounds really promising, and the very busy Henry Cavill just doesn't stop! (and now we're thinking that's likely why he's growing the beard again).

We can't wait to see Henry take on this military role. He was set to play a somewhat similar character in Stratton (and he'd done extensive training for it), before he departed that project earlier this year. Filming on Sand Castle comes just before Henry begins promotion for Batman v Superman, and then starts shooting Justice League in the spring.

As always, you can look for us to bring you the latest information as we get it.

Congratulations Henry!

36 comments:

  1. I am Ecstatic that Henry is playing Captain in his role for this movie. This is curing my Stratton withdrawals lol.... also, Luke and Henry have worked together before in Immortals and are good friends so that's really great!!! CAN'T WAIT!!! OHC

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  3. So excited. He gets to play the soldier he's wanted to play. I bet Nic will be able to give him some pointers too. And to work with Luke again!!!! So happy for him. I wonder where it will film?

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    1. No details on where they will be filming yet. But if we hear, we'll pass it on to you guys.

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    2. they always choose Morocco for this kind of environment.

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    3. ^^ Yes, you are correct anonymous!

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    4. Incredibly happy for Cavill! Finally some news about an upcoming project. I almost jumped out of my seat when I first saw it on the imdb feed! HAHA!

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  4. Although I am extremely happy for Henry, Luke, And Nicholas for this project. We have 318 million Americans over here (which is almost 5 million times what they have in The United Kingdom), half of which are probably men and there are probably a lot who want to be actors. So why do people keep casting Brits to play us, as if they can play us better than we can play ourselves. I love them as actors but it would be nice to see an American play an American for a change. But I guess casting directors know best, and I still love Henry as an actor and am extremely happy for him. So congrats to them and can't wait to see the film.

    (I apologize if this comes off offensive in advance. Its not meant to be. I just don't understand that)

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    1. hi :)
      I truly do not understand your logic or way of thinking regarding the Brit playing American, etc. I am also a US citizen/American, yet have no issues with this. It is called ACTING for a reason and if someone is cast for a particular role, then there must be a good reason for it :)

      I would also like to remind you and everyone else that Americans have played Brits or other nationalities more than once.....ex: Robert Downey Jr -British in Sherlock Holmes, Gillian Anderson - Irish in The Fall, Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, etc etc etc....the list goes on with Americans who have portrayed NON American roles. This is just how the movie industry works.

      So it is not just Brits playing Americans, it's anyone the producers/movie industry decide on for that particular movie.

      (I also mean no offense to anyone and everyone has their opinion, but what I stated are facts - hope this helps :) )

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    2. Gillian Anderson is British first. She moved to the US when she was in grade school

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    3. Well that's interesting because when you look her up she is listed as American not British. :)

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  5. Awesome news...Sounds like a great film/team/cast/story in the works... (y)
    Thanks for sharing, HCN :)
    SuperSoloSpecialForcesCaptainHenry...<3 <3 <3 U :D
    KB10

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  6. i'm really happy for him, he finally got a job this year, if i'm not wrong he did not filmed anything in 2015

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    1. He was supposed to be filming Stratton. He had been prepping & training for that film before it fell apart.

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  7. I'm also an American who has no problem with casting British actors for American roles. It's okay to have a preference but it comes down to which actor you think can portray the character the best. I was glad Daniel Day Lewis portrayed Abraham Lincoln because he is a great actor not because of his nationality. I'm very happy for Henry getting this role and it is another movie I have to look forward to

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    1. My only problem with it, is that this is a movie about something that Americans did, and the 3 lead, not only 1 but 3, are all British. It seems like casting directors like to take moments from America's history and cast they movies full of people who aren't even American. The cast people of different nationalities to play Americans all the time, but I rarely see American getting cast to play very rarely. And like I said I am happy for them and will still want the movie but I feel since it a movies about Americans, It would make sense for at least 1 of the lead to be an actual American. And I have no problem with Henry playing an American ( As he is one of my most favorite actors), I just don't think a movie surrounding America's history, should only feature Brits as leads. Although I love British people, I somewhat don't agree. I feel that British people would be mad if it was a movie about their history and all the lead were Americans.

      (Again not meant to be offensive)

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    2. Again, we all have our opinions....but the fact remains that Americans are cast in American movies and are not just played all the time by others aka Brits etc.

      Examples =
      Lone Survivor lead Mark Wahlberg American along with the co leads were American
      American Sniper = Bradley Cooper American
      The Hurt Locker = American leads
      Saving Private Ryan = American leads
      etc...
      and Brits might be saying the same thing about Americans...since I mentioned in a few comments above all the American actors portraying British or other roles.

      But it is not one sided as per the facts... Brits play Americans / Americans play Brits, etc etc etc....

      (no offense intended as always ;) OHC)

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    3. No offence taken. In the British press there has been a lot of speculation about why so many of our finest actors are working in the States playing Americans (Dominic West, Rita Wilson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christian Bale & Damian Lewis, to name but a few). It appears that in the US there is just more work (we are a small island after all). As for why so many British and Irish actors play Americans these days; perhaps because for a relatively small place we have two of the best acting schools in the world, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
      As for Americans playing Brits:- Robert Downey Jr. played Sir Charles Chaplin (nominated for Best Actor Oscar) and Meryl Streep played Baroness Margaret Thatcher (nominated for Best Actress Oscar and won) so it does work both ways. But it's not just Americans that British actors portray, in Lost Naveen Andrews and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje played an Iraqi and a Nigerian respectively.
      Rebecca xxx

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    4. For me it's not that I care whether a British person is playing an American or vice versa. I would like, however, to hear Henry in a role with his native accent because it sounds so damn fine!!!

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  8. I want to see Henry. He hasn't been out and about lately. Where is he?

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    1. Hopefully enjoying some personal time.

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    2. If he is starting shooting in less than a months time he's probably busy working. Learning his lines, having weapons training etc.

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    3. He'll be able to put the training he was doing for Stratton to good use now. I remember Duncan referencing gun training he was doing with Henry and about how good he was. Hopefully we'll be able to get some BTS photos.

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  9. I am going to send Special Forces Captain Henry a care package...with a lil piglet stuffed with beef jerky and poetry...just so can really get into the feel of the role... :D <3
    KB10

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  10. It's such a great and exciting news!
    It will be very interesting to see Mr Cavill playing military role. The subject that has been repeated is so close to his chest and his inner soldier persona will shine in this performance.

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    1. Plus teaming up with Luke Evans and Nicholas Hoult, what a treat for us! :)

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  11. So happy to hear that he will be filming again.
    Tell him to come and film in South Africa. The Dollar/Rand exchange is extremely enticing for film studios and we have the Karoo that looks like a desert. It's about time he came to South Africa. We really need to see this gorgeous man here. Wishing him only the best always.

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  12. So happy for Henry and Luke! Love them working together. So I get to see Henry in military gear after all!!!! Made my day:) so excited about this, Henry in a war film. Very different role for him, it's gritty and ruff. Not to mention the director of "Narcos" -insane would be the perfect word to describe it.
    Can't wait! Thanks so much HCN! As always excellent job on keeping us posted on everything Cavill.
    I<3HenrysSandCastles....
    River

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  13. British vs American...American vs British. This isn't a pissing match.

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    1. Who said it was?

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    2. Ridiculous amount of tit for tat going on.

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  14. American actors cost more to the production than the British ones, as they are always asking for a higher salary

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  15. We've seen Henry a couple of times in the military, most recently in MFU. I loved the pics of him a WW2 era American GI. So cute! Perhaps this explains the haircut.

    As for Brits playing American soldiers, I wonder how many Hollywood liberal American wimpy actors want to portray American soldiers in a positive light? Wahlburg and Cooper can't play all of the roles.

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  16. I am very excited to see Henry starring in this movie, such a different role will give him another opportunity to once again prove what a great actor he is, plus he already has the chemistry with Luke Evans so I'm sure they will be amazing. Congrats to Henry! we can't wait for all your new movies next year!

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Dear all, we love your feedback! -- Just some common guidelines: Please respect each other, and most importantly respect Henry. We don't like deleting comments, but we will if we feel they're offensive/inappropriate/off topic. In order to provide a safe space for our community, at times comments may be pre-moderated.
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