Lone Scherfig conducts Danish epic Music and Silence

Lone Scherfig, the Danish film-maker who scored a big hit with An Education and has just completed comedy romance One Day starring Anne Hathaway for Focus Features, has signed to direct Danish historical epic Music And Silence. The film will shoot in early 2012 for release in 2013.

Martin Sherman (Mrs Henderson Presents, Bent) has written the script for the project which is based on the Whitbread award-winning novel by Rose Tremain.

Dan Lupovitz and Alexandra Stone are producing while BBC Films co-developed and is co-financing the film.

The film is set in the court of Danish King Christian IV and tells the story of the king’s fight to save his kingdom and his marriage. At the same time two young servants who are falling in love find themselves torn apart when the king’s wife is banished from the court.

 “This is a unique project,” said Christine Langan of BBC Films. “Rose’s book is symphonic in it’s range of emotions — sexy, funny and passionate. It’s a treat to be working again with the exquisitely talented Lone Scherfig and Martin Sherman.”