Winter's Tale Information

Winter's Tale is an upcoming 2014 American supernatural drama film based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Mark Helprin. The film is directed and written by Akiva Goldsman and stars Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, Jessica Brown Findlay, Jennifer Connelly and Will Smith. Winter's Tale is Goldsman's debut as director of a feature film.

Plot

Set in 1916 and present-day Manhattan, Winter's Tale follows the story of Peter Lake (Colin Farrell). Peter Lake is a thief who falls in love with Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay), a dying girl who occupies one of the houses he breaks into. Lake is saved from the insane gangster Pearly Soames (Russell Crowe) and his gang of thugs by Athansor, a mysterious white horse who becomes his guardian angel.

Cast

• Colin Farrell as Peter Lake
• Russell Crowe as Pearly Soames
• Jessica Brown Findlay as Beverly Penn
• Jennifer Connelly as Virginia Gamely
• Will Smith as Judge
• William Hurt as Isaac Penn
• Eva Marie Saint as Adult Willa
• Matt Bomer as Peter's father
• Lucy Griffiths as Peter's mother
• Finn Whittrock as Gabriel
• Listo, an Andalusian stallion, plays the number one version of the white horse Athansor

Production

Winter's Tale has been described as a "passion project" for director Akiva Goldsman, who was given the go-ahead for the film by Warner Brothers in February 2011 with a budget of $75 million. It was reported that the film's budget was dropped to $46 million in February 2012; at the same time Will Smith and Russell Crowe were linked to the project in supporting roles.

Various actors were considered for the central roles of Peter Lake and Beverley Penn. Benjamin Walker, Tom Hiddleston, Aaron Johnson and Garrett Hedlund auditioned for the role of Peter Lake while Elizabeth Olsen, Bella Heathcote, Gabriella Wilde and Sarah Gordon tested for the role of Beverly. In March 2012 it was reported that Jessica Brown Findlay had been offered the role of Beverly; Colin Farrell was linked to the role of Peter Lake in the following month.

William Hurt joined the cast as Beverly's father, Isaac Penn, in August 2012. In September 2012 multiple new cast members were announced, including Matt Bomer, Lucy Griffiths and Eva Marie Saint. The final major addition to the cast was Jennifer Connelly, whose involvement was confirmed in October 2012 shortly before the start of filming.

Variety reported that the cinematographer on the film will be Caleb Deschanel and the composer Hans Zimmer.

Principal photography began in October 2012 but was quickly delayed on account of Hurricane Sandy. Shooting took place at various locations across New York City including Grand Central Station, Red Hook, Brooklyn, East Village, Manhattan and Central Park.