Quendrith Johnson

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

Want some film news? Okay. This lazy heat of summer meets Summerstorm Entertainment (Germany) with an announcement about the Henry James adapt THE ASPERN PAPERS now shooting in Venice, Italy.

They've added Jonathan Rhys Meyers to a cast that already includes some marquee names, notably Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, and Poppy Delevingne, as well as a newcomer, Morgane Polanski.

What? You've heard that last name before somewhere?

Yes, she is the daughter of Roman Polanski and Emmanuelle Seigner. Hey, Morgane's brother is named Elvis Polanski, she has only the Arthurian Legend to bear, not the Graceland baggage, luckily.

And get this: Rhys Meyers was once EMMY-nominated playing Elvis... a tenuous connection, yes, and possibly an even worse segue? Granted.

How about James Ivory executive produced this, an important detail to remember. Read on.

On That Note: The Press Notes for THE ASPERN PAPERS

Jon Kortajarena, Poppy Delevingne, Morgane Polanski, Alice Aufray and Barbara Meier Join the Cast with Production Underway in Venice, Italy  

VENICE, ITALY (August 4, 2017) Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point, “The Tudors”), Jon Kortajarena (A Single Man, “Quantico”), Poppy Delevingne (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Kingsman: The Golden Circle), Morgane Polanski (“Vikings,” The Ghost Writer), Alice Aufray (Un village presque parfait) and Barbara Meier (Schreie der Vergessenen) have joined Academy Award^® Winner Vanessa Redgrave (Foxcatcher, Julia, Howards End) and Golden Globe^® Nominee Joely Richardson (Snowden, “Nip/Tuck,”The Patriot) in the adaptation of Henry James’s novel The Aspern Papers.  Julien Landais is directing from an adaptation he wrote with Jean Pavans and Hannah Bhuiya.

Set in Venice in 1885, Morton Vint (Rhys Meyers), an ambiguous young writer and publisher fascinated by iconic romantic poet Jeffrey Aspern, strives to get his hands on the letters Aspern wrote to his beautiful mistress, Juliana Bordereau (Redgrave). Now, decades later, Juliana lives in a Venetian palazzo with her niece (Richardson), whom she dominates and Morton tries to seduce. Production is currently underway on original location in Venice, Italy.

Gabriela Bacher is producing for Film House Germany’s Summerstorm Entertainment, alongside Julien Landais for Princeps Films. Executive Producers include James Ivory (who supported Landais through development), Charles S. Cohen of Cohen Media Group, Francois Sarkozy, Christian Angermayer, Klemens Hallmann and Charles-Henri de Lobkowicz. Bruno Wang serves as Co-Executive Producer. ARRI Media will be handling foreign sales.

Rhys Meyers was Emmy^® nominated and won a Golden Globe^® for his role in “Elvis,” and has since starred as King Henry VIII in “The Tudors,” for which he garnered two Golden Globe^® nominations, as Dracula in “Dracula,” which he also produced, and currently stars as Bishop Heahmund in the History Channel’s Emmy Award^® Nominated series “Vikings.” Notable film credits include: the Academy Award^®nominated Match Point, Vanity Fair, Mission Impossible III, From Paris with Love, and many more.

Kortajarena is known for his role as Felix Cordova in ABC’s “Quantico,” and has previously starred in films including A Single Man, The Cliff, Skins, and more. Delevingne has appeared in television series including “The Royals” and “Love Advent,” and films including Pirate Radio, Elvis & Nixon, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Kingman: The Golden Circle. 

Polanski most recently starred in the History Channel’s Emmy Award^® Nominated series “Vikings,” and her slate includes roles in films such as The Pianist, Oliver Twist, and The Ghost Writer. Aufray has previously appeared in Un village presque parfait. Meier is a German actress also known as the winner of the second cycle of Germany's Next Top Model.

More Info Than You Need, But, So Well Written...

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and CAA; Jon Kortajarena by View Management and Untitled Entertainment and ICM Partner; Poppy Delevingne by LINK Entertainment and WME; Morgane Polanski by Jen Turner at Finley Management and 42 in the UK; Alice Aufray by Rosallie Miller Mann; and Barbara Meier by StormSolutions and bluesparrow.

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