Ralph Fiennes and Viggo Mortensen are set to play two estranged friends divided by an old secret in Oscar-winning director István Szabó's upcoming movie Embers, based on Sándor Márai's 1942 novel of the same name.
The period drama, described as a "high-stake psychological duel" between former friends Konrad (Mortensen) and Henrik (Fiennes), also stars Knives Out's Katherine Langford, Charlotte Rampling, Louis Hofmann, Gijs Blom, Evelyne Brochu and Jonah Russell (via Deadline).
Producer Robert Lantos, who is reuniting with Szabó and Fiennes after the 1999 movie Sunshine, hailed the script by Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Father) as "magnificent", and Embers as "[his] dream team film".
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Hampton previously adapted Márai's novel as a stage play in 2006, then sent his script to Szabó with a two-word message, "In hope". For his part, the Mephisto director called the screenplay "the best [he's] ever held in [his] hands".
Now filming in Budapest, Embers follows once inseparable friends Henrik and Konrad, who reunite decades after Konrad's mysterious disappearance. Over the course of one evening, the two former friends engage in a psychological duel about the secret that tore them apart years prior, and the woman at the centre of it.
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"I had long hoped to be reunited with István Szabó on another film. Robert Lantos has brought us together with Christopher Hampton's wonderful adaptation of Embers," said Fiennes.
"One of the great joys of this project was to be able to work with Viggo Mortensen, he is a great actor who I have admired for many years. It was something extraordinary to be on the set with him, István and a superb Hungarian crew."
Mortensen added: "To have worked alongside Ralph Fiennes for István Szabó on Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Sándor Márai's beautiful novel has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I couldn't have asked for a more inspiring challenge."
Embankment Film is handling sales for the film ahead of the Cannes market, with co-director Tim Haslam teasing: "Embers is a high-stakes psychological duel, in which a moment of desire and betrayal defines a lifetime."
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
