Carlyle on Board For Power Flood (UPDATED)
British drama co-producer Power has started shooting Flood, its US$24m feature disaster thriller about sea-inundated London, set for theatrical release early next year. The feature joins Power in a three-way hook-up with Moonlighting Films of South Africa and Muse Entertainment Enterprises of Canada. The project is being produced by Power's CEO Justin Bodle and independent producer Peter McAleese.
"After three years producing high-end television drama for the global TV market, the move into feature films was a natural one for Power," says Bodle.
Director is Tony Mitchell, who helmed the BBC drama-docs Supervolcano and Ancient Egyptians, making his feature film debut on Flood. The film will shoot for 13 weeks on location in London and in studios in South Africa.
Robert Carlyle stars in a tale of disaster when a giant wave hits England's east coast and floods London. Jessalyn Gilsig (Nip/Tuck), Tom Courtenay (Doctor Zhivago), David Suchet, Joanne Whalley, Nigel Planer and Tom Hardy also appear.
The project is Power's first big move into theatrical films. The company built its drama business on mini-series co-produced with partners in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
Power is responsible for some of the UK’s most critically acclaimed mini-series over the past three years, including International Emmy winning Henry VIII and Colditz for ITV and Archangel, Casanova and The Virgin Queen, which were all co-productions with the BBC.
“Flood is a very ambitious project based on our capital city being hit by the catastrophic flooding predicted by scientists, " Justin Bodie says. "It is highly topical with global warming and rising sea levels creating a real threat to London. It is a very fast moving thriller and we are delighted to have so much great talent attached.”
Timely yet terrifying, Flood predicts the unthinkable. When a raging storm coincides with high seas it unleashes a colossal surge, which travels mercilessly down England’s East Coast and into the River Thames. Overwhelming the Thames Flood Barrier, torrents of water pour into the city. The lives of millions of Londoners are at stake. Top marine engineers and barrier experts Rob, his ex-wife Sam and his father Leonard Morrison, have only a few hours to save the city from total devastation. A real probability in a real location. It is not a question of if, but when, London floods.
The cast includes Robert Carlyle who came to prominence for his role of Begbie in Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting. He won a BAFTA award for his role in 1997’s The Full Monty and has since featured in productions including The 51st State, Angela’s Ashes and The World is Not Enough.
Jessalyn Gilsig is best known for her role of Gina Russo in the hit TV series Nip/Tuck. Tom Courtenay won a BAFTA award for his role in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination for The Dresser and an Academy Award nomination for Doctor Zhivago. His distinguished list of credits also includes Nicholas Nickleby and Last Orders. David Suchet (Poirot, The Way We Live Now, Get Carman) also stars alongside Joanne Whalley, Nigel Planer and Tom Hardy.