Chris Pine to Star in First Italian-Speaking Role in ‘The Kidnapping of Arabella’

Chris Pine has joined the cast of feature film “The Kidnapping of Arabella” (“Il rapimento di Arabella”) in an Italian-speaking role.

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Written and directed by emerging Italian director Carolina Cavalli as a follow-up to her feature debut “Amanda,” the film, described as a “dramedy,” tells the story of a young woman convinced she is the wrong version of herself.

Bendetta Porcaroli, who appeared in “Amanda,” is again teaming up with Cavalli, this time to play Holly, a young misfit uncomfortable in her body. Convinced she is “the wrong version of herself,” a chance encounter with a 7-year-old gets Holly to change her mind.

Production is set to start this week in Northern Italy.

Pine, who also speaks Spanish, told Spanish magazine Vanidades earlier this year he is learning Italian and sometimes confuses words between the two languages.

Earlier this month Variety exclusively revealed that “The Kidnapping of Arabella” was in the works earlier following the success of “Amanda,” an absurdist arrested development comedy which went to Venice and Toronto two years ago.

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“I think lonely people who come together to solve a problem have already solved the biggest one, and this is what makes me happy about this story,” Cavalli told Variety three weeks ago. “I can’t wait to start and I am very grateful for this opportunity.”

The Apartment CEO Annamaria Morelli added: “Carolina’s second film is perfectly aligned with my vision for The Apartment going forward. On the one hand, I will continue along the same lines the company is known for, meaning high-end productions involving top Italian talents such as Paolo Sorrentino, Luca Guadagnino etc and also big international co-productions and prime international IP.”

“The Kidnapping of Arabella” is produced by Elsinore Film and The Apartment, a Fremantle company. The producers are Antonio Celsi for Elsinore and Annamaria Morelli for The Apartment.

Chris Pine is repped by CAA, John Carrabino Management and Gendler, Kelly & Cunningham.

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