Monthly Archive for September, 2010

GK Films’ Photo of the Week 09.24.10

“Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” star Michael Douglas in “Traffic,” winner of four Academy Awards® including Best Director for Steven Soderbergh.  To see more great photos from “Traffic” and get info on upcoming GK Films’ productions, go to http://gk-films.com.

GK Films’ Photo of the Week 09.17.10

Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner star in GK Films’ “The Town,” in theatres today. Set in Boston, the film also stars Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Blake Lively, Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper.

King and Queen team up with Tribeca Productions to make Freddie Mercury Film; Peter Morgan to write screenplay; Sacha Baron Cohen to star as Freddie

The film which all Hollywood has been hotly pursuing is finally on track to be made – it is the Freddie Mercury story, this week announced by GK Films in partnership with Robert de Niro’s and Jane Rosenthal’s Tribeca Productions and Queen Films.

Two-time Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan (“The Queen,” “Frost/Nixon”) is already at work on the script of the currently untitled film, which will feature Academy Award® nominee Sacha Baron Cohen in the starring role.

Baron Cohen will play the legendary front man of the iconic rock band Queen, and the currently untitled drama will focus on the years leading up to Queen’s appearance at the historic Live Aid concert in 1985 when the band famously took the event by storm.

Production is set to begin in 2011. GK Film’s Graham King said today, “Queen is one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and a music brand all unto itself.  Freddie Mercury was an awe-inspiring performer, so with Sacha in the starring role coupled with Peter’s screenplay and the support of Queen, we have the perfect combination to tell the real story behind their success.”

Baron Cohen is currently starring in Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo Cabret,” also produced by GK Films. His recent credits have included “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and his “Bruno” and “Borat” feature films, based on characters from his British TV series “Da Ali G Show.” Baron Cohen was nominated for an Academy Award® for his adapted screenplay for “Borat” as well as winning the Golden Globe for his performance in the comedy feature.  He has also won two BAFTA’s for his work on “Da Ali G Show.”  Baron Cohen is currently writing and plans to star in an Untitled/Goat Herder feature film for Paramount Pictures.

Peter Morgan has seen his career go from strength to strength over recent years.  In addition to his Academy Award®-nominated credits he also recently wrote the acclaimed “The Last King of Scotland” starring Forest Whitaker, who won the Academy Award® for Best Male Actor, ”The Other Boleyn Girl” and “The Damned United,” as well as his Emmy-nominated TV dramas “The Special Relationship” and “Longford.”  His current film “Hereafter” directed by Clint Eastwood is set for its theatrical release through Warner Bros. Pictures following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Queen have sold over 170 million albums and scored countless number one albums and singles around the world including such classics as “We Will Rock You,” “We are the Champions,” “Another One Bites the Dust.” “Radio Ga Ga,” and, of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Queen’s smash hit stage musical “We Will Rock You” continues to pack the 2,000 seat Dominion Theatre in London’s West End nightly, 9 years after its opening, and with additional productions springing up around the world has now been seen by more than 11 million people.

Sacha Baron Cohen is repped by WmE Entertainment.  Peter Morgan is repped by United Talent in the US and Independent Talent Group in the UK.

GK Films’ Photo of the Week 09.10.10

Matt Damon in a scene from Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED, written by William Monahan and also starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg. Graham King won the 2006 Academy Award® for Best Picture for the film that won a total of 4 Oscars.

GK Films’ “The Town” makes its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival

Check out these red carpet photos from the world premiere of GK Films’ “The Town,” directed by Ben Affleck, at the Venice Film Festival.

GK Films’ Photo of the Week 09.03.10

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes and Gwen Stefani as Jean Harlow in The Aviator, directed by Martin Scorsese. The film won five Academy Awards®, including Best Supporting Actress to Cate Blanchett for her portrayal of screen legend Katherine Hepburn. (Click the photo to see a larger version.)