The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek Into Darkness, “Sherlock”) and Keira Knightley (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films, Pride & Prejudice), began principal photography in the UK yesterday. The film is a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of one of Britain’s most extraordinary unsung heroes, Alan Turing.
The pioneer of modern-day computing, Turing is credited with cracking the German Enigma code and the film is a nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British Establishment, but his work and legacy live on.
Cumberbatch and Knightley will star as Alan Turing and his close friend and fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke, alongside a cast that includes Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance, Allen Leech and Matthew Beard.
Norwegian filmmaker Morten Tyldum (Headhunters) is directing from a screenplay by Graham Moore, based on the book “Alan Turing: The Enigma” by Andrew Hodges.
Black Bear Pictures’ Teddy Schwarzman is producing alongside Nora Grossman and Ido Ostrowsky, with Moore as executive producer and Peter Heslop (The Kings Speech) as co-producer. Behind-the camera talent includes director of photography Óscar Faura (The Impossible), editor William Goldenberg (Oscar® winner for Argo), production designer Maria Djurkovic (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), hair and make-up designer Ivana Primorac (Anna Karenina), casting director Nina Gold (Les Miserables) and composer Clint Mansell (Black Swan).
