On the Mary, Queen of Scots project with Scarlett Johansson: “That film was being financed by a company that essentially went broke… the finances went bankrupt early last year.”

Things are not looking good for the future of this project

A spokesperson for Element Pictures says, “With strike action involving the Screen Actors Guild looming we are waiting to see what happens. We are hoping that things get resolved in the next few weeks.”

Source: Hollyscoop

Capitol hopes that Mary Queen of Scots, starring Scarlett Johansson, finally will go into production this summer after a number of delays, but helmer Phillip Noyce has withdrawn from the project.

Rumors have emerged that Capitol’s financial uncertainty may also delay or derail a pair of projects in pre-production: Mary, Queen of Scots, starring Scarlett Johansson, and Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, starring Jennifer Lopez, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lisa Kudrow.

Here’s to hoping the film will go into production soon and without any hassle.

Fortunately, Britain is blessed with an abundance of both.

Phillip Noyce’s Mary, Queen of Scots is a good example of the sort of indie project it still makes sense to film in the British Isles. Although producers Alexandra Milchan and Melanie Johansson are American, the script was originally developed by BBC Films with local writer Jimmy McGovern.

The historical subject matter argues strongly for production to take place somewhere closely approximating the authentic locations of the story.

Even with Scarlett Johansson committed to play Scotland’s doomed 16th-century monarch, it’s still remarkably hard to make the sums add up.

The project has been on and off for years. Even now, the mooted July shooting date is hanging in the balance as the pic’s principal financier, U.K.-based sales company Capitol Films, juggles the budget, with one eye on the potential disruption of a threatened SAG strike. The recent WGA work stoppage already set the project back by delaying crucial rewrites.

Capitol is leaving no stone unturned in tapping subsidies to mitigate the cost. Like Braveheart before it, this iconic tale of Scottish history looks set to be shot largely in Ireland, where the incentives are greater. Of the $51.2 million budget, $22 million will be spent on a six-week shoot in Ireland in return for a $1.5 million investment from the Irish Film Board and $4.4 million from the Section 481 tax rebate.

Section 481 is payable on day one of principal photography — a cash-flow advantage over the U.K.’s tax credit, which can only be claimed after production is complete. Section 481 applies not just to Irish spend but also to the salaries paid to any EU citizen during the Irish leg — including British crews and Johansson, who holds a Danish passport.

Historical veracity demands that some scenes be shot in Scotland. Scottish Screen is investing $1 million in the film to secure three weeks of filming. Post-production will take place in London.

After deducting financing costs, the U.K. tax credit will be worth 16% of the $19.5 million qualifying British expenditure, or roughly $3.1 million — assuming the pic passes the cultural test. Even with an Australian director and an American star, that shouldn’t be too much of a challenge, given the British script, crew and subject matter.

In total, therefore, the project should be able to tap approximately $10 million in soft money, or a fifth of its budget, to offset the cost of shooting in pounds (the U.K.) and euros (Ireland).

Source: Variety

In real life, Mary had problems with men, one in particular, her second husband, Lord Darnely, who burst into her room in the Palace of Holyrood House, threatened her and murdered her secretary, David Riccio.

Among those said to be in the running for the Bothwell role, are Clive Owen, Robert Carlyle and James McAvoy.

Former Rome star Kevin McKidd played a convincing Bothwell in a recent television version of the monarch’s life, but he is unlikely to get the film role.

The delay is now raising doubts that the film will make it into production in time to avoid a strike by members of the Screen Actors Guild at the end of June: “Scarlett is having trouble with who her profile leading man should be,” said a source: “The actors’ strike is also going to be significant. It could be after the summer before anything happens.

“Assuming a typical 60-day movie shoot, plus extra time for days off and re-shoots that might be necessary, few big-studio movies will start filming after the end of this month.”

Both the Irish Film Board and Scottish Screen stand to gain hugely from the £20million movie, which will be filmed at castle locations in both countries.

Directed by Philip Noyce, the film will be chronicle the life of Mary, particularly her strained relationship with Queen Elizabeth I of England, who eventually ordered her execution.

Scarlett, 23, said recently: “The script covers Mary’s return to Scotland from France and goes up to her death. I’m researching her now, reading books about her.

“Mary was a very complex, very interesting lady. She’s one of history’s most fascinating women.”

Possible location sites include Stirling Castle, where Mary spent her childhood.

Another is Dumbarton Castle, where she went into hiding, or her refuge at Inchmahome Priory, on an island in the Lake of Menteith.

Source: Daily Express, thanks Roberto!

Last year, it emerged the actress had been signed up to play Mary, Queen of Scots, the tragic monarch who was born at Linlithgow Palace. The movie’s production team are currently touring the UK looking for locations and West Lothian Council plans to get in touch to put their case.

Provost Tom Kerr said: “This will be a major international production which could rival the success of Mel Gibson’s Braveheart.

“We plan to make the production company aware of the importance of Linlithgow’s connection with Mary, Queen of Scots and to consider filming in our historic town.”

In 2004, scores of fans descended on the tiny West Lothian village of Dechmont when George Clooney was in the area as producer of the film The Jacket.

Martyn Day, the council’s development and transport leader, said a new film about Mary Stuart would give a massive boost to the region.

He said: “We would certainly offer help with the filming of this important new movie and we will be contacting the production company to invite them to visit Linlithgow.”

Source: Scotsman

Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met the actors from The Other Boleyn Girl at a screening at the Odeon cinema in London’s Leicester Square.

Natalie Portman, who stars with Scarlett Johansson as sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn battling to win the affections of Henry VIII, said she was very excited to meet the prince.

“It must be so strange to see a film version of your family,” she said.

This is the second time Natalie has met Prince Charles

“I met him briefly for the premiere of Star Wars about eight years ago, but I’m sure it was an inconsequential moment in his life.”

Johansson, who was sporting a new circular tattoo on the inside of her left arm, joked with Charles about her forthcoming role as Mary Queen of Scots.

“I’m going to take over the whole of British history,” she said.

“A girl from New York – can you believe it?”

The film is based on the novel by Philippa Gregory, who said Camilla had told her she had read the book and loved it.

“It was a very successful book worldwide and now it’s hopefully going to get a whole new lease of life – it’s a very exciting time,” the author said.

The film is British director Justin Chadwick’s first feature-length production and he said making it was an “amazing experience”.

He added: “It’s an honour and a privilege to have my first film chosen to have a royal premiere.”

Before the screening Camilla, who was wearing a purple velvet evening gown, was presented with a programme by 13-year-old Emma Bell, from Bexleyheath, south London.

Earlier in the day the royal couple attended a lunchtime reception for leading figures from the British film industry.

Stars, directors and industry executives mingled at the reception at Clarence House.

Charles told the assembled company: “The great thing is that British cinema does seem to be admired in every part of the world, mainly I think, due to the constant search for excellence which goes back to the very beginning of film making.”

The lunchtime reception and this evening’s premiere were both held in aid of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, which helps people in the British film, cinema and commercial television industry.

Source: Metro.co.uk

The press archive has been updated with three new articles, two from USA Today and the third from ComingSoon.net. Like the recently added Cinema Blend interview, the ComingSoon.net one is also from the Boleyn press conference so it contains some comments you may have read before. There’s also some additional quotes that were not published by Cinema Blend, such as Scarlett and Natalie discussing The Horse Whisperer. A very interesting read! In these articles Scarlett also confirms that Mary Queen of Scots will be her next movie.

• The Other Boleyn Girl: Natalie vs Scarlett!
• ‘Boleyn’ girls Portman, Johansson share a sisterhood thing
• More from the ‘Boleyn’ girls

Here’s an interesting quote from Scarlett regarding her upcoming album. Speaking of, I’ve updated the music page with additional info on “Anywhere I Lay My Head”.

Johansson, meanwhile, has an album of Tom Waits covers out in May. With her distinctive husky voice, Johansson relished getting into the studio and isn’t worried whether the album tops the charts.

“How it does is ineffective for me. You can’t reverse the process,” Johansson says. “The people I care about are very excited about it. Who knows? I don’t have any kind of expectation. I love to sing.”

Last but not least, I’ve added a beautiful pic of Scarlett and Natalie. This came along the USA Today article and it was taken at the press conference.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Photoshoots: USA Today

The actress will play the 16th century monarch who had an antagonistic relationship with Queen Elizabeth I of England and was eventually beheaded.

Capitol Films and Relativity Media are financing, with Jimmy McGovern is penning the screenplay. The star’s mother and manager Melanie Johansson will produce the film with Alexandra Milchan.

Johansson has been attached to the project since September 2006. It had a tentative start date of late summer 2007, but Johansson ended up filming Columbia’s The Other Boleyn Girl.

Source: Hollywood Reporter