Johnny Flynn (“Ripley,” “One Life”) is set to lead the cast of survival thriller “A Prayer for the Dying,” with John C. Reilly also joining the film, now in production outside Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Written and directed by Dara Van Dusen, “A Prayer for the Dying” is based on the novel by Stewart O’Nan and takes place in 1870 in Friendship, Wisconsin, a small town of Scandinavian settlers still suffering the repercussion of the recent Civil War. When faced with a new and even deadlier threat, one man is forced to make a harrowing choice: save his young family or defend the community that gave him a second chance at life and meaning. Flynn will play Jacob Hansen, the sheriff responsible for the safety of the town, while Reilly will play the local doctor.
“A Prayer for the Dying” will also feature leading Scandinavian actors Kristine Kujath Thorp (“Ninjababy,” “Sick of Myself”) and Gustav Lindh (“The Northman,” “Queen of Hearts”).
”I’m completely delighted to be a part of this amazing project with such wonderful, talented people,” said Flynn. “Dara’s adaptation of the powerful novel by Stewart O’Nan is a thing of delicate, eerie beauty. A dark and foreboding tale – which although set in the past, seems incredibly prescient for the off-kilter times we live in.”
Van Dusen is a writer and director from New York, currently residing in Oslo, Norway. She has numerous development and production grants from the Norwegian Film Institute. Her short “Significant Others” competed in Cannes Official Selection. Her most recent short, “The Blind Man” — an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s short story — was nominated for Best Nordic Short and selected in the Nordic Panorama. She is represented by Rowena Wallace at Peach House.
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“It is absolutely surreal to not only have been given the opportunity to adapt and direct my favorite novel, but to also work together with my favorite actors to bring it to life,” said Van Dusen. “Johnny and John are just incredible. It’s all a dream.”
The film is produced by Dyveke Bjørkly Graver and Andrea Berentsen Ottmar for Eye Eye Pictures and, whose credits include Joachim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World,” Kristoffer Borgli’s “Sick of Myself.” Co-producers include Mimmi Spång for Garagefilm International, Tristan Goligher for The Bureau, Vicky Miha for Asterisk*, Fenia Cossovitsa for Blonde Audiovisual Productions, Zahra Waldeck for Banaccas Film, Film i Väst, Mediefondet Zefyr and John Baker. It has been supported by Creative Europe, Norwegian Film Institute, Swedish Film Institute, UK Global Screen Fund and Greek Film Center.
“Watching Dara’s riveting script realized with this astonishing cast is all I could have wished for,” said Graver. “Filming here in Slovakia, with our great team, has been a wonderful experience so far and I’m looking so much forward to share this film with the audience.”
Flynn is represented by United Agents and CAA, Reilly is represented by CAA and Framework Entertainment. Kristine Kujath Thorp and Gustav Lindh are both represented by Agentfirman and Aleksandra Mandic.
Callum Turner was previously attached to star in “A Prayer for the Dying.”
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