Thomas Vinterberg begins Far From the Madding Crowd shoot

Fox Searchlight Pictures has announced that Thomas Vinterberg’sFar From the Madding Crowd has begun principal photography in the UK today [Sept 16]. 

The film stars Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby), Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone), Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon), Tom Sturridge (On the Road) and Juno Temple (Killer Joe). 

The script was written by David Nicholls, author and screenwriter of One Day and Starter for Ten.  Allon Reich and Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films are producing with Christine Langan of BBC Films executive producing. 

The film will shoot on location in Dorset, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London.

Vinterberg said it is “a great privilege to bring such a wonderful piece of very English literature to the screen”.

Langan added that Mulligan is “the perfect Bathsheba”.

Based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy, Far From the Madding Crowd is the story of independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer; Frank Troy (Sturridge), a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. 

Joining Vinterberg on the film are director of photography Charlotte Bruus Christensen, who collaborated with the director on The Hunt and Submarino, production designer Kave Quinn (The Woman in Black), costume designer Janet Patterson (The Piano, Bright Star), hair and make-up designer Sian Grigg (Never Let Me Go), and editor Claire Simpson (The Constant Gardener, Platoon).

Fox Searchlight Pictures director of production Richard Gold and Katie Goodson-Thomas from Ingenious will oversee the project.

Other forthcoming releases from DNA include Dexter Fletcher’s musical Sunshine On Leith and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, which has just finished filming.