Principal photography has wrapped on Mars Express, the feature film debut from Mackenzie Crook.
The true story of Colin and Judith Pillinger, and their mission to find life on Mars, stars BAFTA winner Toby Jones (Mr Burton, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) reuniting him with Crook following their successful collaboration on the award-winning Detectorists, and multi Academy Award nominee Emily Watson (Hamnet, Breaking The Waves, Chernobyl) in the roles of Colin and Judith Pillinger. Supporting cast include Nicholas Burns (Nathan Barley, Black Mirror: Demon 75), Richard Coyle (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, The Other Bennet Sister), Thaddea Graham (Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Jay Kelly), David Dencik (Clayface, Top of The Lake), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Napoleon, Unforgotten), BAFTA winner Rob Delaney (Catastrophe, Deadpool & Wolverine) and Academy Award-winning filmmaker and actor Fisher Stevens (Succession, Beckham).
Mid-90s Britain. Planetary scientists Professor Colin Pillinger and his wife Doctor Judith Pillinger set out to build the Beagle 2 probe to go to Mars in search of organic life. With his mutton chops and strong West Country accent, Colin was an unlikely scientific hero. He and Judith owned an idyllic farm in the English countryside where they kept dairy cattle and other assorted animals. With little previous experience of building a space craft, they pulled together a team of mavericks who took on NASA and almost won.
The script is written by Joe Bone (The Vanishing) based on Professor Colin Pillinger’s book ‘My Life On Mars: The Beagle 2 Diaries’.
Producers are Mary Burke; Luke Alkin and Kenton Allen for Big Talk Studios; Will Clarke and Andy Mayson for Altitude. Co-produced by Big Talk Studios and Altitude, the film was developed in association with BBC Film and financed by BBC Film, BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Sky, Screen Yorkshire through the Yorkshire Content Fund and CML Entertainment Finance Limted.
Altitude is handling international sales and will release the film in UK and Irish cinemas.
Mackenzie Crook says “It’s a complete honour to be telling the extraordinary story of Colin Pillinger and Beagle 2 for my first feature film as director. Joe Bone’s beautiful script has made it easy to attract some of the best names in the business to join our brilliantly creative team and I’m thrilled to be working once again with my friend Toby Jones. Thank you to all at BigTalk Studios, BBC Film, BFI, Sky, Screen Yorkshire, CML Entertainment Finance and Altitude for their trust and support in making this funny, poignant and inspiring film.”
Pictures: Dean Rogers
Jon Creamer
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