Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe have inked their names to headline in the forthcoming historical epic, "The Weight," set against the backdrop of Oregon in the tumultuous year of 1933. In this gripping saga, Hawke embodies Samuel Murphy, a man whose life takes a drastic turn after losing his beloved wife. Imprisoned in a brutal labor camp under the ruthless supervision of Clancy (played by Crowe), Murphy harbors but one desire: to break free and reclaim custody of his daughter, Penny. However, his journey becomes ensnared in Clancy's treacherous gold smuggling operation, pitting him against the unforgiving wilderness and the specter of betrayal lurking within his own ranks.
Directing this cinematic masterpiece is Padraic McKinley, renowned for his television work on series such as "Kingdom" and "Debris." "The Weight" stems from an original screenplay penned by Shelby Gaines, Matthew Chapman, and Matthew Booi, inspired by a narrative conceived by Booi and Leo Scherman.
Fields Entertainment, Under The Influence, and augenschein Filmproduktion, in partnership with Construction Film, have come together to bring this epic to life. With financial backing of €2 million ($2.07 million) secured from FFF Bayern, the Bavarian regional film fund, principal photography is poised to commence in the picturesque landscapes of Bavaria this summer. Leading the production charge are Simon Fields and Nathan Fields for Fields Entertainment, Ryan Hawke for Under The Influence, and Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo of augenschein. Veronica Ferres of Construction Film serves as co-producer, with Ralf Berchtold overseeing as executive producer.
WME Independent and CAA Media Finance orchestrated the film's financing and jointly represent its domestic distribution rights. WME Independent also handles international rights, showcasing the project to potential buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin this very week. Capelight Pictures has secured the German theatrical release.
Next week, Hawke will grace Berlin with his presence for the world premiere of Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon," a period drama costarring Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott. In this film, Hawke portrays legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart.
Ethan Hawke is represented by CAA, MGMT, and attorney George Sheanshang, while Russell Crowe is managed by George Freeman at Brillstein Entertainment and Eric Brooks at Goodman Genow.
