Lesley Manville has a new spy thriller on the way called Winter of the Crow that fans will want to watch out for.
The upcoming movie is based on a short story by the renowned Polish Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuk called Professor Andrews Goes to Warsaw, and follows a psychiatry professor who finds herself trapped in Poland's capital when martial law is suddenly imposed in 1981.
The story was first published in 1998, and was later included in Tokarczuk's 2002 collection Playing on a Multitude of Drums. In it, the titular professor is male, with the upcoming film gender-swapping with star Manville's central character Dr Joan Andrews.
Winter of the Crow will be directed by Kasia Adamik, who has helmed episodes of Netflix series 1983 as well as movie Bark!, while screenwriter Sandra Buchta has written the script.
Producers include Olga Chajdas, Stanislaw Dziedzic, Katarzyna Ozga, Nicolas Steil and Sam Taylor, while Oscar-nominee Agnieszka Holland is on board as an executive producer. The movie has also received backing from the UK Global Screen Fund, which aims to boost global opportunities for the UK's independent film sector.
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Adamik has spoken of her "intensely personal" connection to Professor Andrews Goes to Warsaw's story, sharing in a statement:
"As a child, I lived in a satellite city of Warsaw. After emigrating to the West, I would dream of the concrete labyrinth of grey high rises, a weird no man's land of never-ending, muddy construction sites, reminiscent of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil.
"Now Professor Andrews has found herself in my labyrinth, a dreamlike universe where rules are unknown and absurdity reigns, on the border of the real and phantasmagorical world."
Winter of the Crow follows Dr Andrews, who arrives in Poland as a guest lecturer at the university, though quickly finds herself in grave danger as the country comes under martial law in 1981.
After photographing the murder of a student by a secret police officer, she then becomes "a hunted fugitive running for her life".
"Joan navigates the labyrinthine streets of Warsaw desperately battling against the clock to make the last plane out. British Ambassador (Tom Burke) could be her ally, but can he trust those who are working with him?," the synopsis continues.
"Compelled by a conscience she did not know she had, Joan finds the courage and determination to try and outsmart a totalitarian regime and pursue a path to justice for her new Polish friends.
"But in the face of such oppression, will she make the last flight home and manage to get her incriminating photos out into the world?"
HanWay Films CEO Gabrielle Stewart noted: "As a Cold War spy thriller, Winter of the Crow feels truly original in that the lead protagonist is an everyday woman who is challenged to step up and make a difference in a completely unique situation. Lesley Manville will be simply brilliant and we can't wait to reveal footage of this incredible film."
When will Winter of the Crow be released?
A release date is yet to be announced, though hopefully Winter of the Crow will be released in 2026 given that production has wrapped on the thriller.
Filming previously took place in late 2023 and early 2024 in locations including Poland, Luxembourg and Bristol under the working title The Lecture.
Who else is in Winter of the Crow?
Alongside Manville, other major confirmed cast members include:
• Tom Burke (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) as the British Ambassador
• Zofia Wichłacz (The Romanoffs) as Alina
• Andrzej Konopka (Nina) as Henryk
• Rhianne Barreto (The Outlaws) as Livia
• Sascha Ley (Hannah Arendt) as Beata
• Magdalena Smalara (The Revenge) as Krystina
• Julian Nest (The Merchant of Venice) as Dan Southerton
• Miron Jagniewski (Prime Time) as Jan
Winter of the Crow does not yet have a confirmed release date.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
