DNA Films, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Film4 announced that principal photography on Never Let Me Go commenced today in the UK. The film stars Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Charlotte Rampling, Sally Hawkins, Nathalie Richard and Andrea Riseborough. Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo) directs, with Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine) adapting the screenplay from critically acclaimed author Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel; both also serve as executive producers. Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich are producing for DNA Films where the project was developed.
“We are delighted to be shooting this special project, which Alex Garland first brought to us before the book’s publication in 2005,” said Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA Films. “We could not be happier to have assembled such a remarkable cast and crew for this extraordinary story.”
“From the moment I finished the novel, it became my dream to film it. Ishiguro’s conception is so daring — so eerie and beautiful. Alex Garland’s adaptation is sensitive and precise. The cast is perfect. The crew, superb. I am deeply grateful to be working with DNA Films, Film4, and my friends at Fox Searchlight on this exceptional project,” said director Mark Romanek.
“We are thrilled once again to be working with director Mark Romanek and the fantastic producing team at DNA on this haunting, emotionally moving love story,” said Fox Searchlight COOs Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula. “We look forward to seeing Kazuo Ishiguro’s elegant prose brought to life by such an immensely talented cast and director.”
“We’re all so excited at Film4 to be supporting this film – the script, the cast, the director, the crew and the producers at DNA – every element of the project feels absolutely right. And the fact that all of this stems from one of recent history’s most magnificent novels – a book that I’ve admired hugely since it was first published – makes us feel very lucky indeed,” said Tessa Ross, Head of Film4 & Controller of Film and Drama, Channel 4.
Never Let Me Go is a poignant love story, adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling, Booker Prize short listed novel of the same name. As children, Ruth (Keira Knightley), Kathy (Carey Mulligan) and Tommy (Andrew Garfield), spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.
Never Let Me Go will shoot for 9 weeks in the UK on location.
