EXCLUSIVE: Shout! Studios Acquired North American Screen Adaptation Rights The magic flutewhich is produced by Roland Emmerich.
Directed by Florian Sigl, the film is a modern reimagining of Mozart’s operatic classic. The cast includes Jack Wolfe (the witcher), Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Amedee), Iwan Rheon (game of thrones), Stefi Celma (Call my agent), Asha Banks (Royal Shakespeare Company), Stefan Konarske (Das Boot), Niamh McCormack (the witcher), Amir Wilson (The secret garden), and Tedros Teclebrhan (System crash).
The French soprano Sabine Devieilhe (Opéra National de Paris), the Franco-Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón and the American bass Morris Robinson (Metropolitan Opera, New York) are part of the cast of the ensemble.
The adaptation is set in present-day Europe and tells the story of 17-year-old Tim Walker, who is sent from London to the Austrian Alps to begin his singing scholarship at the legendary Mozart boarding school. There, he discovers a century-old forgotten passage in the Magicthe world of Mozart The Magic Flute.
Producers are Christopher Zwickler of Flute Cinema and Fabian Wolfart. Executive producer is Roland Emmerich through his production company, Centropolis Entertainment. Timm Oberwelland, Theodor Gringel, Peter Eiff and Tobias Alexander Seiffert of Tobis Film and Stefan Konarske of Quinta Media (also cast) will co-produce.
The North American deal was brokered by Diane Ferrandez of AGC Studios for Flute Films and Filmmakers, and Jordan Fields of Shout and Steven Katz, Vice President of Business Affairs. The release is expected to include a theatrical component, but a date has yet to be set.
Sola Media handles international sales. Casting was provided by Sophie Holland Casting.
Roland Emmerich said: “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s masterpiece The Magic Flute has always been my favorite opera since I experienced this Magical story as a young adult. I was immediately drawn to the concept of cinematically re-imagining this story when the film crew approached me with their idea, which I was thrilled to champion. The entire team brought their fantastic vision to the screen in an exciting and innovative way. I can’t wait to scream! The studios are bringing this epic journey to audiences to once again be enchanted by the universally acclaimed and world-famous music.
“The Magic Flute is bold, Magical adventure and a new take on the classic story we all know and love. This breathtaking film offers a vibrant and captivating cinematic journey and is sure to win the hearts and minds of moviegoers. We look forward to growing a large audience across all major distribution platforms,” said Melissa Boag, executive vice president of family entertainment at Shout! Studios.
The production is supported by national and regional backers from Germany and Austria, including FFF Bayern, Bayerischer Bankenfonds, Hessenfilm, MFG Filmförderung, Filmförderung des Landes Salzburg, the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and Filmstandort Austria ( FISA).
