WILLIAM TELL | First look

The filming of "William Tell," the epic story of the legendary crossbow-wielding warrior is well underway in Italy.

The film stars Claes Bang (Bad Sisters, The Square, The Northman), Connor Swindells (Barbie, Sex Education), Golshifteh Farahani (Paterson, Extraction), Academy-Award nominee Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes, The Wife), Academy-Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler’s List), Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals), Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid, World on Fire), Rafe Spall (Life of Pi, The Big Short) and Emily Beecham (The Interpreter, Little Joe).

Further cast include an exciting upcoming talent, including: Solly McLeod (Tom Jones, The Dead Don’t Hurt), Amar Chadha-Patel (The Decameron, Willow), Sam Keeley (Raw, The English Game), Jake Dunn (The Ballad of Renegade Nell) and Tobias Jowett.

Written and directed by Nick Hamm and adapted from Friedrich Schiller's world renowned classical play, the narrative unfolds in the 14th Century, amidst the waning days of the Holy Roman Empire. In this era, Europe's nations fiercely vie for supremacy, and the ambitious Austrians, desiring more land, encroach upon Switzerland, a serene and pastoral nation.

Amidst this backdrop, William Tell, a formerly peaceful hunter, finds himself forced to take action as his family and homeland come under dire threat from the oppressive Austrian King and his ruthless warlords. Leading his fellow countrymen, Tell embarks on a courageous rebellion, seeking to defend their liberty and stand against the tyrannical forces that seek to subjugate them.

Hamm says: “Tell’s story has a relevance and immediacy that is strikingly contemporary. The Apple Scene in particular has gripped the world’s imagination for hundreds of years and yet has never been dramatized in modern cinema. As a filmmaker I couldn’t ask for a more exceptional cast to bring this story to life.”

Tempo are producing WILLIAM TELL with Free Turn and Groenlandia, in association with DNeg Films supported by the IDM Film Fund. Beta Cinema is representing worldwide sales rights with WME Independent representing domestic rights.

The film is produced by Piers Tempest (The Wife, Emily) & Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich (Gigi & Nate). Lensed by DoP Jamie Ramsay (Living, All of us Strangers), edited by two-time Academy-Award nominated Tariq Anwar (The King’s Speech, American Beauty) with 2nd Unit Direction by Diyan Hristov (Dungeons & Dragons, Hellboy). Francesca Sartori (Il Mestiere delle Armi, Alatriste) Costume Designs and multi-award winner, Tonino Zera (The Palace, Caravaggio’s Shadow), is Production Designer. Lauren Evans and Avy Kaufman are the casting directors. Industry-leading VFX house, Double Negative, are handling Visual Effects.

Executive Producers include Jon Hamm, David Nichols and Francesco Marras.