Hugh Dancy Joins Rupert Everett’s Oscar Wilde Biopic ‘The Happy Prince’

BBC Films and Lionsgate UK have boarded the feature, which stars Everett as Wilde and co-stars Colin Firth, Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson.

Embargoed online until Sunday, May 18 at 6 am French time, 9 pm L.A.

Hannibal star Hugh Dancy has joined the cast of The Happy Prince, the upcoming Oscar Wilde biopic which will be Rupert Everett’s directorial debut.

Dancy will play Robbie Ross, the best friend and unrequited love of the iconic Irish writer. In addition to directing, Everett will write and star as Wilde in an ensemble cast that includes Colin Firth, Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson.

The Happy Prince focuses on the final days of Wilde’s life as the once celebrated writer and poet, in the midst of a very public meltdown, looks back on his life with characteristic dry wit.
BBC Films, Lionsgate UK and Raindog Films, Firth and Ged Doherty’s production shingle, have come on board as co-producers of The Happy Prince.

BBC will the UK broadcasting partner for the $14 million (€10 million) production, which Lionsgate will release theatrically in the territory.
The Happy Prince has been set up as a Germany-UK-France-Belgium-Italy co-production with German shingle cine plus as lead producer and France’s cine-@ and Britain’s Robert Fox Ltd co-producing. Producers include Jorg Schulze, Philipp Kreuzer and Frank Evers for cine plus; Philippe Carcassonne for cine-@ and Robert Fox in collaboration with Bavaria Film Partners.
Concorde has picked up the film for theatrical release in Germany. Beta Cinema is handling world sales.
Final casting is still underway for The Happy Prince, with principle photography set to start this October at Bavaria Film Studios in Munich and on locations in Italy, Belgium, France and the U.K..

Source: HollywoodReporter.com