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Netflix has debuted a new trailer for the upcoming series ‘Vikings: Valhalla’, based on the series ‘Vikings’ and created by Michael Hirst.

Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, the series chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived — the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory.

From showrunner and executive producer Jeb Stuart, the series is also executive produced by Morgan O’Sullivan, Michael Hirst, Sheila Hockin,...

Exclusive: Starz has locked up North American rights to the action-adventure pic about a gang of Viking marauders marooned in a hostile land. The deal for Northmen: A Viking Saga covers all platforms in the U.S. and Canada including theatrical, followed by an exclusive premium cable run on Starz networks. Tom Hopper, Ryan Kwanten, Ken Duken, Charlie Murphy, James Norton, Ed Skrein, Anatole Taubman and Johan Hegg star in the pic, which sees the Northmen shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland. They must journey to the safety of the Viking stronghold Danelag — with the Wolf Pack, the king’s ruthless mercenaries, hot on their trail. Bastian Zach and Matthias Bauer wrote Northmen, which was produced by Ralph S. Dietrich. The Salt Company worked the acquisition deal on behalf of Ascot Elite Entertainment Group. A sizzle reel for director Claudio Fäh’s film drew attention at this year’s European Film Market in Berlin.

The company has acquired North American theatrical and Us Pay-tv rights to Northmen – A Viking Saga from Ascot Elite Entertainment Group.

Claudio Fäh directed the saga about a group of banished Vikings who become stranded in hostile Britain.

Northmen – A Viking Saga stars Tom Hopper, Ryan Kwanten, Ken Duken, Charlie Murphy, James Norton, Ed Skrein, Anatole Tauban and Johan Hegg.

The film premiered recently at the Zurich Film Festival and is a co-production between Elite Filmproduktion, Two Oceans Production and Jumping Horse Film.

Ralph S Dietrich, Karin G Dietrich, Daniel Höltschi, Frank Kaminski, Ulrich Stiehm, Marco Del Bianco, Rolf Wappenschmitt, Giselher Venzke and Bertha Spieker produced.

Sam Horley of the Salt Company handles worldwide sales and negotiated the deal on behalf of Ascot Elite.

The star of the upcoming Transporter reboot to lead new film from Teddy Bear director Mads Matthiesen.

British actor Ed Skrein is to star in The Model, the second film from Danish director Mads Matthiesen.

Skrein, a former Screen International Star of Tomorrow, is known for his roles in iLL Manors, The Sweeney and Game of Thrones, and will next be seen in Northmen: A Viking Saga, Kill Your Friends and the reboot of The Transporter action series, set for release spring 2015.

He will star opposite model and first time actor Maria Palm.

The Model tells the story of emerging fashion model Emma (Palm) who struggles to enter the Parisian fashion scene and develops a deadly obsession for male fashion photographer Shane White (Skrein).

Shooting has begun and will continue for seven weeks on location in Paris, Warsaw and Copenhagen.

It marks Matthiesen’s follow-up to Teddy Bear, the story of a bodybuilder looking for love that...

The cast and director of Northmen: A Viking Saga sailed into Zurich at the weekend to discuss their ambitious epic, easily among Switzerland’s biggest films to date.

Director Claudio Fah described the opportunity to direct the $10.5m action film as a “dream come true”:

“When Ascot Elite asked me whether I wanted to make this film it was always a pretty simple answer. Who wouldn’t want to? When we got going it became evident to me that the epic material spoke to me and ticked many boxes.”

“It is quite unique to make a film out of Switzerland that has broad international appeal,” he continued about the film,which has sold to a number of mainstream distributors including eOne in a multi-territory. “It’s a rarity these days.”

The actors agreed that each and every day on shoot was a physical challenge.

Actor Ed Skrein, a former Screen Star of Tomorrow recently cast in...

Eleven Swiss films and five Swiss co-productions will screen during the 10th Zurich Film Festival (Sept 25-Oct 5).

This year two local films will be vying for the Golden Eye in the festival’s International Feature Film Competition: Simon Jaquemet’s well-received debut Chrieg, which had its world premiere last week in San Sebastian, and Bruno Deville’s comedy Bouboule.

The Swiss films to screen in the festival’s new competition Focus Switzerland, Germany, Austria comprise: Children Of The Arctic by Nick Brandestini, who won the Golden Eye at the Zff in 2011 with his documentary Darwin; Dark Star – Hr Gigers Welt by Belinda Sallin; Die Demokratie ist los! by Thomas Isler; and Zu Ende leben by Rebecca Panian.

Out of competition titles include Claudio Fäh’s epic Northmen: A Viking Saga and co-production The Wonders, directed by Alice Rohrwacher, which premiered in Cannes.

Daniel von Aarburg’s documentary Carl Lutz – Der Schweizer Schindler will be screened in the...

International and documentary competitions include The Skeleton Twins, ‘71 and The Look of Silence. A total of 17 world premieres secured for the festival, which has received a budget boost.

The 10th Zurich Film Festival (Sept 25 – Oct 5) has revealed its full line-up, which comprises 145 features – up from 122 last year – from 29 countries.

Co-director Nadja Schildknecht revealed a rise in budget for the festival as well as growth in anticipated guest numbers.

“This year, we expect some 500 guests (previous year 450) from around the world to accompany their films,” she said.

“And the budget has increased accordingly to CHF6.9m ($7.4m) (previous year CHF6.1m/$6.5m).”

As previously announced, Tate Taylor’s James Brown biopic Get On Up will open the festival on Sept 25. The closing film has yet to be revealed.

International competition

The International Feature Film Competition includes 14 titles, some of which have received critical acclaim at previous festivals such as Yann Demange’s action thriller ‘71, which debuted at the...

Middle East film distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment is giving Arabic and Bollywood distributors a chance to have their movies reach larger audiences thanks to a new deal making it an iTunes aggregator. The Apple service is the only platform in the Middle East that offers simultaneous releases in eight countries: UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait. Front Row has already made some of its titles available including A Long Way Down, Rush, Diana and Where Do We Go Now? The company says it will aggressively pursue the premium VOD window, making titles available in eight territories across the Middle East including day-and-date theatrical releases in Saudi Arabia, where there are no movie theaters. “With free television not acquiring independent titles, the DVD market dying and Pay TV being extremely selective, I’m sure that local film distributors will finally find common grounds and encourage the VOD medium even more,...

Deal covers United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.

Middle East film distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has struck a deal with iTunes to act as an aggregator for any independent, Arabic and Bollywood distribution companies who would like to make their titles available across the Middle East and the rest of the world.

Front Row has already launched several of its own titles on iTunes in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The films are being offered in a ranges of languages and subtitles.

Those titles include A Long Way Down, Rush, Diana, and Where Do We Go Now?.

Front Row is already known for working in the ‘premium VOD window’ in the Middle East with titles such as The Resident, Let Me In and Ides of March.

The company said it will “aggressively pursue the premium VOD window making titles available in eight...

Other new additions include St. Vincent starring Bill Murray and Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer with Denzel Washington.

The 10th Zurich Film Festival (Sept 25 - Oct 5) has added seven titles to its Gala Premieres section. They are:

Eden, Mia Hansen-LøveGone Girl, David FincherGood Kill, Andrew NiccolIn the Basement, Ulrich SeidlSt. Vincent, Theodore MelfiThe Equalizer, Antoine FuquaThe New Girlfriend, François Ozon

The titles add to an already strong line-up of gala screenings at this year’s Zurich, which will open on Sept 25 with Tate Taylor’s James Brown biopic, Get On Up.

Previously announced titles to screen in Zurich’s Gala Premieres section include:

And So It Goes, Rob ReinerBirdman, Alejandro González IñárrituThe Cut, Fatih AkinManglehorn, David Gordon GreenMy Old Lady, Israel HorovitzNational Gallery, Frederick WisemanNorthmen - A Viking Saga, Claudio FähA Walk Among the Tombstones, Scott FrankWhiplash, Damien ChazelleWish I Was Here, Zach BraffThe Wonders, Alice Rohrwacher...

Northmen A Viking Saga Trailer. Claudio Fäh‘s Northmen: A Viking Saga (2014) international movie trailer stars Leo Gregory, Ken Duken, Anatole Taubman, Nic Rasenti, and Joe Vaz. Northmen: A Viking Saga‘s plot synopsis: “A gang of Viking marauders under the command of their young leader, Asbjörn, bear down on the [...]

Continue reading: Northmen: A Viking Saga (2014) International Movie Trailer...

Exclusive: Rabid dog horror written by Johannes Roberts to hit Cannes marché.

UK sales outfit The Salt Company has boarded international rights to horror The Pool, to be directed by Paul Hyett (The Seasoning House, Howl).

Written by Johannes Roberts and Ernest Riera (with revisions by Hyett, Conal Palmer and Steven Lally), and set to be produced by Tim Dennison of Tall Man Films, The Pool follows a pool party at a luxury cliff top location that becomes a desperate fight for survival when the beloved family dog turns rabid.

FX specialist Hyett, who has worked on hits including The Descent and The Woman in Black, said: “What elevates a horror into a classic is making the audience terrified of the everyday – in this case, man’s best friend.” Hyett is handling FX for the project.

The film is due to start shoot in autumn 2014 in Puerto Rico.

Executive producers are Peter La Terriere of Platform 9 Pictures...

We here at Collider are happy to debut a new image from director Claudio Fäh’s new film Northmen – A Viking Saga featuring True Blood actor Ryan Kwanten. The story revolves around a band of Viking marauders who sail down the coast of Britain with dreams of pillaging gold, but a shipwreck forces them to travel on foot to a Viking stronghold while being pursued by the King of Scotland’s infamous mercenaries, the Wolf Pack. Kwanten plays the enigmatic Conall, a monk who “preaches with his sword” and helps the Vikings try to reach safety and combat the deadly Wolf Pack. Hit the jump to check out the full image. The film also stars Tom Hopper, Charlie Murphy, and Ed Skrein. Click on the image to enlarge. Here’s the official synopsis for Northmen – A Viking Saga: A gang of Viking marauders under the command of their young leader,...

Principal photography has wrapped on Claudio Fäh’s Northmen – A Viking Saga, and we've got the first official image from the film to share with you. The story centers on a band of Viking marauders who sail down the coast of Britain with dreams of pillaging gold, but a shipwreck forces them to travel on foot to a Viking stronghold, pursued by the King of Scotland's infamous mercenaries, the Wolf Pack. Tom Hopper (Knights of Badassdom), Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Irish actress Charlie Murphy (Philomena), Ed Skrein (The Sweeney), Ken Duken (Inglorious Basterds), Anatole Taubman (Quantum of Solace) and James Norton (Rush) star. Hit the jump to see the first image and for more on the film. Here's the press release and first image for Northmen - A Viking Saga, which recently wrapped on principal photography: Northmen – A Viking Saga Completes Principal Photography After 8 weeks of shooting, principal photography...

Exclusive: Germany-Benelux deal for new horror from Saw franchise writer.

London-based sales outfit Salt has inked a German-speaking Europe and Benelux deal with Splendid Film on their new horror-thriller The Neighbor, from well-known genre writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton.

Dunstan, who wrote Saw IV, V and VI with Melton and was director of The Collector and its sequel, The Collection (also both written by Melton), will direct.

Producers are Brett Forbes and Patrick Rizzotti of Fortress Features. Wme handles North America.

Tom Rice and Ben Nearn from Sycamore Pictures will also be producing and arranging financing.

Set in New Mexico, the film follows a man who discovers the dark truth about his secretive neighbour and what, or who, he may be keeping in the cellar. Casting is underway.

Salt’s Viking epic Northmen - A Viking Saga is currently in production.

Exclusive: Germany-Benelux deal for new horror from Saw franchise writer.

London-based sales outfit Salt has inked a German-speaking Europe and Benelux deal with Splendid Film on their new horror-thriller The Neighbor, from well-known genre writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton.

Dunstan, who wrote Saw IV, V and VI with Melton and was director of The Collector and its sequel, The Collection (also both written by Melton), will direct.

Producers are Brett Forbes and Patrick Rizzotti of Fortress Features. Wme handles North America.

Tom Rice and Ben Nearn from Sycamore Pictures will also be producing and arranging financing.

Set in New Mexico, the film follows a man who discovers the dark truth about his secretive neighbour and what, or who, he may be keeping in the cellar. Casting is underway.

Salt’s Viking epic Northmen - A Viking Saga is currently in production.

Global heavy metal vocalist, Johan Hegg, has been confirmed to join the cast of "Northmen- A Viking Saga". Ralph Dietrich, chief executive officer, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, made the announcement today. Hegg, the frontman of Sweden's heavy metal titans Amon Amarth, will join the production in South Africa this month, playing the role of Viking warrior Valli. Said Hegg The mythology behind our Viking heritage is engrained in everything we do and it is awesome to have the opportunity to be part of Northmen-A Viking Saga. This is going to be one epic adventure and I cannot wait to be on set with my co-stars and this fantastic filmmaking team! Dietrich added It is an honour to have metal icon, Johan Hegg, set sail with us and we could not be more excited. Such a...

Here's the first of what promises to be a lot of casting news over the next few days: Olga Kurylenko (Oblivion) and Vincent Cassel (Black Swan) clash in Stephen Campanelli’s action thriller, Momentum. Morgan Freeman (Now You See Me) and Shea Whigham (Silver Linings Playbook) co-star. Rupert Grint (Cbgb), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), James D'Arcy (Cloud Atlas) and Jason Flemyng (X-Men: First Class), Neil Maskell (Kill List) and Joe Gilgun (This is England) join Vincent Regan's Macbeth adaptation, Enemy of Man, with Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) in the lead. Tom Hopper (Knights of Badassdom), Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Irish actress Charlie Murphy (Philomena), Ed Skrein (The Sweeney), Ken Duken (Inglorious Basterds), Anatole Taubman (Quantum of Solace) and James Norton (Rush) star in Claudio Fäh's Northmen - A Viking Saga. Hit the jump for more on each project. Variety reports that Kurylenko and Cassel will clash...

Exclusive: Ryan Kwanten, Tom Hopper, Charlie Murphy and 2013 Screen Star of Tomorrow Ed Skrein have joined the cast of Northmen – A Viking Saga, which starts principal photography on Sept 9.

The film will shoot for eight weeks primarily in South Africa, with some additional shooting in Germany.

Claudio Fah directs the epic adventure. The previously announced cast includes Ken Duken, Anatole Taubman and James Norton (who is also a 2013 Screen Star of Tomorrow).

Matthias Bauer and Bastian Zach wrote the script, about Viking marauders trapped in enemy territory in Scotland.

The Salt Company is handling worldwide sales; eOne has already taken on the UK, France, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand.

The film is co-produced by Ascot Elite Entertainment Group’s production arm, Elite Filmproduktion Ag, Two Oceans Productions and Jumping Horse Film. Producers are Karin G. Dietrich, Ralph S. Dietrich and Daniel Hoeltschi for Elite, and Marco Del Bianco, Frank Kaminski, Ulrich Stiehm and [link...