Member Article

Screen Yorkshire invests in bringing $25 million Hollywood film production to the county

Screen Yorkshire today announces its latest investment through the Yorkshire Content Fund in the $25 million US/UK co-production Hunter’s Prayer.

The European-set action feature will bring major Hollywood stars and filmmaking talent to Yorkshire when it shoots this autumn. Filming will also take place in Hungary.

Cast confirmed to date include Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans, The Debt) with additional high profile names to be announced imminently.

Hunter’s Prayer will be directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3, Surrogates, U-571) and produced by Navid McIlhargey (Rock’n’Rolla)/Anthony Rhulen (Rum Diary) for Film Engine US, Chris Milburn (Getaway, An American Haunting) for Midsummer Films UK, John and Michael Schwarz, Sam Worthington for Full Clip (US) and Paul Leyden.

Based on the critically acclaimed novel For The Dogs by Kevin Wignall, it is adapted for the screen by writers Paul Leyden, Oren Moverman, and John Brancato and Michael Ferris.

The plot focuses on Lucas (Sam Worthington), a solitary assassin who is hired to kill a young girl but can’t bring himself to do it. After he fails to carry out the task, both are marked for death and hunted across Europe.

Screen Yorkshire is investing in Hunter’s Prayer through its Yorkshire Content Fund alongside the Ingenious Senior Film Fund and LipSync Productions. Sierra/Affinity is handling international sales.

Executive producer, Hugo Heppell, Head of Investments at Screen Yorkshire said: ’’The Yorkshire Content Fund continues to have a dramatic impact on production levels in the region.

This latest investment is highly significant as it demonstrates that Yorkshire is now able to attract - and host - big budget international feature films, as well as major sporting events like the Tour de France.’’

The Yorkshire Content Fund, the biggest regional investment fund for production in the UK, is backed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The £15 million fund is open to content producers working in film, TV, games and digital based in Yorkshire or from outside but looking to establish a base in the region thus stimulating local production levels.

Recent investments include: Peaky Blinders, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Testament Of Youth, Get Santa, X + Y, Death Comes to Pemberley, Catch me Daddy, and ’71.

Photo: Courtesy of Eva Rinaldiunder this Creative Commons license

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .