Martin Henderson (“The Ring”), Emily Watson (“Punch-Drunk Love”) and Thomas Wright (“The Bridge”) have joined the cast of Baltasar Kormákur’s epic adventure movie “Everest,” TheWrap has learned.
Additionally, “House of Cards” actor Michael Kelly has been cast as “Into Thin Air” author Jon Krakauer, who also wrote “Into the Wild” and “Under the Banner of Heaven.”
The quartet of established actors join Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke and John Hawkes in the true-life tale.
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“Everest” is a presentation of Universal Pictures and Cross Creek Pictures in association with Walden Media. Working Title Films principals Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are producing with Cross Creek’s Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson, as well as Nicky Kentish Barnes.
Inspired by the incredible events surrounding a treacherous attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, “Everest” documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind.
Watson will play a motherly base camp figure who works closely with Clarke’s character, while Wright will play a guide on the expedition led by Clarke. Krakauer will be depicted as the journalist and climber who chronicled the ascent attempt, eventually writing about the tragedy that followed.
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Mark Medoff (“Children of a Lesser God”) and Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) wrote the script for the movie, which will shoot on location in Nepal on the foothills of Everest and the Italian Dolomites, as well as at Cinecittà Studios in Rome and Pinewood Studios in the U.K.
Universal will release “Everest” in 3D and IMAX 3D on February 27, 2015, and its executives Erik Baiers and Chloe Yellin will oversee the project for the studio.
Henderson is a New Zealand native who got his start in a number of Australian films and TV productions before he landed a supporting role in the John Woo’s war film “Windtalkers.” In 2002, he starred opposite Naomi Watts in Gore Verbinski’s horror movie “The Ring.” He recently finished shooting Atom Egoyan’s courtroom drama “Devil’s Knot” with Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth, as well as the Jerry Bruckheimer pilot “The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives.” Henderson will soon be seen as the lead in Aaron Guzikowski’s Sundance Channel drama “The Red Road,” which also stars Jason Momoa and Julianne Nicholson.
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Watson is a two-time Oscar nominee for Lars von Triers’s “Breaking the Waves” and Anand Tucker’s “Hilary and Jackie.” The “Gosford Park” actress played Adam Sandler’s love interest in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Punch-Drunk Love” and Ralph Fiennes’ would-be victim in Brett Ratner’s “Red Dragon.” She recently starred in “The Book Thief” and will soon be seen in Fox Searchlight’s drama “Belle.”
Wright is an Australian theater veteran who currently plays Steven Linder on the FX series “The Bridge,” which stars Diane Kruger and Demian Bichir. He recently starred in Robert Connolly’s drama “Balibo” and earned critical acclaim for his performance alongside Elisabeth Moss in the Sundance Channel/BBC series “Top of the Lake.”
Henderson is represented by CAA, Management 360 and attorney Warren Dern. Watson is represented by UTA, Independent Talent Group and attorney James Adams. Wright is represented by WME and manager Stacey Testro.