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William Tell’s status as a folk hero makes his story kind of a Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves for the Swiss, only they're taking a country from the rich (Austria) and giving it to the poor. (Swiss! How times have changed.) It's roughly as historically accurate as that Kevin Costner film too, very much leaning into a ‘print the legend’ view of history and not bothering too much with pesky facts or the possibility that Tell never existed. That all said, if you can get past how old-fashioned it all feels and lean into the Braveheart-esque fight for freedom, it's rather fun.

Director Nick Hamm has rooted his story in the William Tell play by Friedrich von Schiller, who re-popularised Tell in the early 1800s, but he's added some modern flourishes. This Tell, played by Dane Claes Bang, has a background fighting in the Crusades but a strong...

As Swiss legend goes, William Tell became a medieval folk hero when occupying Austrian militants forced him into a sick game: He was forced to fire an arrow into an apple atop his son’s head to save his family from execution. It was a daunting task, but the warrior’s aim was true, inspiring a rebellion among the Swiss and, centuries later, everything from Gioachino Rossini’s iconic overture to a very funny “Far Side” comic. With “William Tell,” producers hope that fable can spawn an action franchise as well.

Debuting at the Toronto Film Festival, it’s a film driven by future-proofed storytelling, setting up an overwhelming sweep of characters over its plodding 133-minute running time, before culminating in a shameless sequel tease in its final image. And yet, with a towering Claes Bang in the lead role and a dynamic supporting cast, it’s easier to swallow...

Beta Cinema has arrived in Cannes with a slew of sales on its resistance epic William Tell.

Currently in post-production, screenwriter Nick Hamm’s adaptation for the big screen of Friedrich Schiller’s play stars Danish actor Claes Bang (The Square), Golshifteh Farahani (Paterson), Connor Swindells (Barbie, Sex Education), Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid, The Tattooist of Auschwitz) and Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (Schindler’s List, Iron Man).

The story takes place in the 14th century, “amidst the waning days of the Holy Roman Empire where Europe’s nations fiercely vie for supremacy and the ambitious Austrians, desiring more land, encroach upon Switzerland, a serene and pastoral nation.” William Tell, a formerly peaceful hunter, finds himself forced to take action as his family and homeland come under threat from the oppressive Austrian king and his ruthless warlords.

The film’s ensemble cast also includes Ellie Bamber (Moss & Freud, Nocturnal Animals), Rafe Spall (Life of Pi,...

This London crime drama steers clear of the usual cliches thanks to a strong cast and some dynamic direction from George Amponsah

Here is a solidly made high-energy London crime drama, which skirts around the Sumotherhood cliches … just about. A moped gang is making money and having toxic fun stealing smartphones and wallets out of people’s hands – then they escalate to robbing jewellery shops, with calamitous results. It’s co-written by Taz Skylar, who plays one of the robbers, and directed by George Amponsah, who in 2015 made the important documentary The Hard Stop about the Mark Duggan case.

Stephen Odubola plays Ash, a basically decent young guy with a talent for riding and maintaining bikes, but drawn into the phone-jacking business due to an absent dad; he also has to provide for his kid sister Jas (a nice performance from Rawdat Quadri) and save money for rehab treatment for his addicted mum,...

UK director George Amponsah’s thriller Gassed Up has won the London Film Festival (Lff) Audience Award for Best Feature in the 67th edition running from October 4 to 15, as the event also posts record participation.

Further Audiences Award winners, which were announced on Monday, went to The Taste of Mango for Best Documentary, Festival of Slaps for Best British Film/Work and Murals for Best Immersive Work/Xr.

Amponsah’s London-set thriller stars Stephen Odubola as a member of a moped street crime gang, who gets on the wrong side of an Albanian crime family.

Archie Maddocks co-wrote the screenplay with One Piece breakout Taz Skylar, who also appears in the film, with other cast including including Steve Toussaint (House Of The Dragon) and Tobias Jowett, soon to be seen in Nick Hamm’s upcoming epic William Tell.

The thriller marks Amponsah’s first fiction feature...

The first look images of “William Tell,” the epic story of the crossbow-wielding warrior, have been released. The feature film is in its last week of principal photography in Italy. Beta Cinema is representing international sales rights with WME Independent handling North American rights.

Nick Hamm directs, based on his screenplay, adapted from Friedrich Schiller’s play. Hamm’s credits include “Driven,” which was selected as the closing film at the Venice Film Festival 2018 and released by Universal; “Gigi & Nate” (2022); the Netflix series “White Lines” (2020); and “The Journey,” which premiered at Venice and Toronto in 2016.

The film stars Claes Bang, Connor Swindells, Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani, Jonah Hauer-King, Rafe Spall, Emily Beecham, Academy-Award nominee Jonathan Pryce and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley.

The story unfolds in the 14th century amid the waning days of the Holy Roman Empire, when Europe’s nations fiercely vie for supremacy and the ambitious Austrians,...

Claes Bang has signed on to star in Nick Hamm’s period action film William Tell, playing the legendary Swiss marksman.

The Danish actor, star of Ruben Östlund’s 2017 Cannes Palme d’Or winner The Square, Sharon Horgan’s Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ series Bad Sisters and the baddie in Robert Eggers’ The Northman, will be joined by an ensemble cast, including Connor Swindells (Barbie), Ellie Bamber (Willow), Golshifteh Farahani (Extraction), Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid), Rafe Spall (The Big Short), Emily Beecham (Little Joe), Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones, The Two Popes) and Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Sexy Beast).

Hamm adapted William Tell from Friedrich Schiller’s famous play, set in the 14th Century, which follows a peaceful hunter who picks up his crossbow to fight tyranny, in the form of a corrupt Austrian King. In the play’s most famous scene, Tell is forced by authorities to shoot an...

Beta Cinema and the UK’s Free Turn Films and Tempo Productions have officially announced Nick Hamm’s epic drama William Tell, as its under-the-radar shoot enters its final week in Italy.

The partners have unveiled a first-look image of Claes Bang in the role of the legendary crossbow-wielding warrior (scroll down to check it out).

Bang is joined in the cast by Connor Swindells, Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani, Jonah Hauer-King, Rafe Spall, Emily Beecham, Jonathan Pryce and Oscar winner Ben Kingsley.

“As a filmmaker I couldn’t ask for a more exceptional cast to bring this story to life,” said Hamm.

Beta Cinema, which represents worldwide sales rights while WME Independent handles domestic rights, will debut a first sales teaser to buyers at the AFM next week.

Claes Bang as William Tell

Hamm wrote the screenplay, adapting German writer Friedrich Schiller’s 1804 classic play of the same name.

The...

Cast also includes Connor Swindells, Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani, Jonah Hauer-King, Rafe Spall, Emily Beecham, Jonathan Pryce and Ben Kingsley.

Beta Cinema has boarded international sales on Nick Hamm’s English-language feature William Tell, based on the classic story of the Swiss crossbow warrior.

Written and directed by Hamm, William Tell stars Claes Bang as Tell alongside Connor Swindells, Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani, Jonah Hauer-King, Rafe Spall, Emily Beecham as well as Oscar nominee Jonathan Pryce and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley.

Beta Cinema and production companies Free Turn Films and Tempo Productions have also released a first look of...

Vertigo Releasing has launched the trailer for the upcoming London-based youth drama ‘Gassed Up.’

Set in London, the film follows a group of young men in a moped gang, who, desperate to make ends meet, have turned to petty theft. At the centre of the story is 20-year-old Ash (Odubola) who is trying to support his younger sister and help his struggling mother. Fighting to balance his pure intentions and the allure of fast cash, he and his friends soon get drawn into the web of an Albanian crime family. He must choose between loyalty to his friends and family, and the draw of a fast, thrilling lifestyle.

Directed by George Amponsah, Stephen Odubola, Taz Skylar, Steve Toussaint, Craige Middleburg, Jelena Gavrilovic, Mohammed Mansaray, Tobias Jowett, Tomi May,

Ben Shafik, Rawdat Quadri star.

Also in trailers – Trailer drops for Hammer Films’ reimagining of ‘Doctor Jekyll’

The movie is screening at...

Amazon Prime Video has greenlit BAFTA-nominated “Hard Stop” director George Amponsah’s feature film debut, action thriller “Gassed Up.”

Now in production in London, the movie will launch on Prime Video in the U.K. and Ireland in 2023. Directed by Amponsah, and written by Archie Maddocks and Taz Skylar, the film stars Stephen Odubola, Skylar and singer Mae Muller, as well as Ms Banks, Yung Filly and Harry Pinero.

Set during the peak of a wave of moped crimes sweeping London, “Gassed Up” follows 20-year-old Ash (Odubola), who is trying to earn money to raise his 14-year-old sister and send his mother to rehab, but gets caught up with an organized crime ring led by a young and charismatic Albanian immigrant (Skylar).

As the crimes get bigger and the attention becomes addictive, Ash struggles to keep his head above water. Soon, he has to choose between the people he loves,...