Sony Classics has acquired the worldwide rights to Nicholas Hytner’s The Choir written by Alan Bennett. This is the fourth collaboration between Bennett and Hytner following
The Lady In The Van , The History Boys and The Madness Of King George010010 The Choral, unlike those previous films, is based on a screenplay that was written by Hytner. He will produce the film with Kevin Loader and Damian Jones. Backing comes from Sony Pictures Classics, BBC Film and Screen Yorkshire, and shooting will commence in Yorkshire this May.Executive producers include Caroline Cooper Charles, Eva Yates, Paul Grindey and Charles Moore.The Choral
is about an ambitious choral society in Yorkshire in 1916 in which the chorus master and most of the choir have volunteered for the front. The choral, under the direction of Dr. Guthrie’s (Fiennes), recruits a group of teenage boys and girl. Together, they discover the joys and urgency of desire while the new boys deal with their imminent conscription to the army. Sony Pictures Classics reunites with Fiennes in
The Choral
as well. His last two directorial works, The White Crow
& The Invisible Woman were released by Sony Pictures Classics along with several of his films, including The White Countess. Like Fiennes, Broadbent has starred in several Sony Pictures Classics’ films, including The Duke and Another Year.In focus: the major European production and distribution groups
