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PRESS RELEASE : HAMMER ANNOUNCES NEW FILM - THE WAKE WOOD

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PRESS RELEASE: HAMMER IN PRODUCTION WITH NEW FILM - THE WAKE WOOD
Production News 22.09.2008

Hammer have issued a press release announcing the commencement of production on their new film, The Wake Wood. See below...

HAMMER FILMS BACK IN PRODUCTION BUSINESS WITH “THE WAKE WOOD”

 

Timothy Spall, Aidan Gillen and Eva Birthistle Star in New Horror Feature, Which Begins Production in Ireland Today

 

London, England - September 22, 2008 – Embarking on its first feature film production in nearly 30 years, legendary British film company Hammer Films has started principle photography in Ireland on the horror thriller “The Wake Wood” with a cast that includes Aidan Gillen (“The Wire”), Eva Birthistle (“Middletown”) and Timothy Spall (“Harry Potter” series, “Sweeney Todd”). The announcement was made today by Hammer Films Chairman & CEO Simon Oakes.

 

Recognized as one of the preeminent horror brands in the world, the last horror film produced by Hammer Films was “To the Devil a Daughter” starring Christopher Lee in 1976. The last feature (horror or otherwise) produced by the company was the mystery thriller “The Lady Vanishes” in 1979. With the recent formation of HS Media (the Cyrte Investments backed parent company of Hammer and Los Angeles-based Spitfire Pictures), Hammer is now being aggressively reinvigorated through new investments in the development, production, financing and distribution of film, television and digital-platform content.

 

Backed by funds from the Irish Film Board, “The Wake Wood” begins principal photography today in County Donegal, Ireland. Vertigo Films has acquired UK distribution rights and is eyeing a fall 2009 release for the film.

 

David Keating is directing “Wake Wood” from a screenplay he co-wrote with Brendan McCarthy, who came up with the original story. Brendan McCarthy is producing the film along with John McDonnell through their Fantastic Films banner. Simon Oakes and Guy East are Executive Producers.

 

Still grieving the death of nine-year-old Alice – their only child – at the jaws of a crazed dog, vet Patrick and pharmacist Louise relocate to the remote town of Wake Wood where they learn of a pagan ritual that will allow them three more days with Alice. The couple find the idea disturbing and exciting in equal measure, but once they agree terms with Arthur, the village’s leader, a far bigger question looms – what will they do when it’s time for Alice to go back?

 

ABOUT HAMMER

Hammer is a legendary British film brand which was originally launched in 1934 and, following a period of inactivity during WW2, delivered a hugely successful run of gothic monster movies in the 1950’s including such hits as THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT, CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE NANNY and DRACULA. Hammer's reputation became branded worldwide as the 'Hammer House of Horror'. In the 1960’s Hammer struck distribution deals with Universal, Warner Brothers, Fox and Columbia. Hammer went on to produce a huge volume of films which included such classics as THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES, QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, THE DEVIL RIDES OUT and ONE MILLION YEARS BC.

 

Today, Hammer has an active development slate totaling more than 25 projects sourced out of both Europe and the United States.  Hammer expects a number of these projects to go into production during the course of 2008 and 2009.

 

ABOUT HS MEDIA

Formed by Dutch Investment Group Cyrte Investments in May 2008, HS Media is the parent company of Los Angeles based Spitfire Pictures and legendary British Studio, Hammer Films. The company is run by Nigel Sinclair, Guy East and Simon Oakes with Sinclair and Oakes serving as Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs (out of Los Angeles and London respectively), and East as President and Chairman of the Executive Board and of the Sales and Distribution Operation.

 

Spitfire and Hammer operate as one business with two separate brands. The company produces 6-8 films per year and acquires additional pictures for worldwide distribution. Development and production activities are run out of both Los Angeles and London. The group also develops projects for television.

 

HS Media has a current combined Hammer and Spitfire library of over 300 titles and will pursue an aggressive library acquisition policy. The Hammer library is noted for its remake potential and the company is in discussions with A-list writers and directors to revive and re-imagine some of the highly touted titles.

 

 

 

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* 22.09.2008. Hammer Confirms New Film - The Wake Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

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