May 12 2009
Christopher Lee to star in new “Hammer horror” film
Christopher Lee is set to star in a new “Hammer horror” film for the first time in more than 30 years.
Hammer, one of Britain’s oldest production labels, was launched in 1934 and hit its peak during the 1950s and 1960s thanks in part to Lee’s Count Dracula.
The last Hammer film he appeared in was To the Devil … A Daughter in 1976. Younger fans have been introduced to the actor thanks to parts in the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars trilogies.
He will join Oscar winner Hilary Swank and Watchmen’s Jeffrey Dean Morgan for Hammer’s new thriller Invasion Of Privacy.
The film will be released under the banner of Hammer Films, although Exclusive Media Group is financing the project, which will be directed by debutant Antti J Jokinen.
Although little is given away regarding the plot, a brief synopsis says: “After separating from her husband, the beautiful and young Dr Juliet Dermer (Hilary Swank) moves to Brooklyn, NY and settles into a new life in a stunning and spacious loft apartment that seems to good to be true. It is …”
Peter Naish, Exclusive’s Head of Sales, said: “It has been exciting to see this project evolve into such a high profile commercial thriller which is now ready to leap off the page. The new script is scary and smart; the cast is fantastic; and Antti is assembling a great crew.”
Hammer’s heyday in the 1960s included releases such as The Curse of the Werewolf, The Kiss of the Vampire, The Devil Rides Out and The Plague of Zombies. Non-horror movies included One Million Years BC featuring Raquel Welch and her famous fur bikini.
The studio however suffered in the 1970s as more sophisticated Hollywood releases such as The Exorcist began to make Hammer look dated.
Source - www.thestandard.com.hk
