The Escapist

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Basic Info

Genre: Drama

Filmed: 29 January – 2 March 2007 in Dublin & London

Production Co’s: Parallel Films, Picture Farm

Distributor: Vertigo (UK), Goalpost Film (International)

Cast: Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Liam Cunningham, Seu Jorge, Steven Macintosh, Dominic Cooper, Damian Lewis (Rizza)

Crew: Rupert Wyatt (Director), Rupert Wyatt & Daniel Hardy (Screenwriters), Adrian Sturges (Producer), Alan Moloney (Producer)

Description

Frank Perry (Brian Cox) is a lifer, thirteen years into his sentence and institutionalised. His estranged daughter is in hospital and close to death. Desperate to make his peace with her, Frank develops a plan to escape. But he can’t break out alone and enlists an ensemble of escapists.

Source

News & Notes

7 Feb 2007 – A message from producer Adrian Sturges:
… Damian is currently with us in Dublin playing a principal role in Picture Farm’s new film THE ESCAPIST, alongside Brian Cox, Joe Fiennes, Liam Cunningham, Seu Jorge (City of God), Steven Macintosh and Dominic Cooper (History Boys). The film is the debut of Picture Farm partner Rupert Wyatt and I’m producing it with Alan Moloney (Intermission, Breakfast on Pluto). The press release announcing the film has just gone out so watch out for news on the web over the next day or so. The film is a prison escape thriller with a twist and Damian plays Rizza, the ‘king of the wing’ and Brian Cox’s character’s nemesis …

Brief production and casting notes: 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5l 6.

8 Feb 2007 – Press Release.

17 Feb 2007 – Variety’s Film Production Chart for The Escapist indicates that the UK distribution rights are held by Vertigo Films but Goalpost has distribution rights outside of the UK.

26 Feb 2007 – An article in Show Biz Ireland reports that filming for The Escapist has now moved from Dublin to London.

9 Mar 2007 – According to IMDb the production status of The Escapist is now “post-production” indicating that the principal shooting has concluded.

18 Apr 2007 – A ShowBiz Ireland article about The Escapist states that the film will be released theatrically in Ireland “sometime around September.”

25 Apr 2007 – In a message sent to his Yahoo! Group fans Damian Lewis indicated that he recently completed filming The Escapist and that the movie is currently “in edit”.

19 May 2007 – From a Screen Daily article: “New UK-based sales company Goalpost Films has its first full slate at Cannes. Tristan Whalley (Goalpost and Majestic veteran) and Nicki Parfitt (Portman, Lee & Thompson) started the company last year and are continuing sales on Sundance hit Clubland and Ruper Wyatt’s thriller The Escapist (now in post), starring Brian Cox and Joseph Fiennes.”

20 May 2007 – From a CinEuropa article: “Currently in post-production is The Escapist by first time filmmaker Rupert Wyatt, starring Brian Cox and Joseph Fiennes. (Goalpost sales executive) Whalley describes it as a “high octane prison escape thriller.””

29 May 2007 – Update from Picture Farm: “The Escapist will be in Post until September however the screening of the Promo down at Cannes by our International Sales Agent Vertigo was a great success.”

19 June 2007 – Another update from Picture Farm: “We are nearly finished editing The Escapist and I’m really excited by the film and Damian is great in it. We’re moving on to the sound and music shortly and hope to be finished in September. The film has distribution in the UK already – Vertigo Films – and a sales agent. We showed a promo to buyers in Cannes and the response was really good.”