Emma Watson, Daniel Bruhl to star in Colonia

Pincipal photography is about to begin on thriller Colonia, from German director Florian Gallenberger (John Rabe). 

The film stars Emma Watson in her first lead role since the Harry Potter franchise and Daniel Brühl, the German star of Rush and The Face of an Angel.

The film will shoot in Luxembourg, Munich, Berlin and South America, until the end of the year.

Colonia tells the story of Lena and Daniel, a young couple, who become entangled in the Chilean military coup of 1973.

Daniel is abducted by Pinochet’s secret police and Lena tracks him to a sealed off area in the South of the country, called Colonia Dignidad. 

The Colonia presents itself as a charitable mission run by lay preacher Paul Schäfer but, in fact, is a place nobody ever escaped from. Lena decides to join the cult in order to find Daniel.

Gallenberger is directing Colonia from a script he and Torsten Wenzel wrote, inspired by true events. 

Benjamin Herrmann is producing the feature through his Majestic outfit.  Nicolas Steil will serve as co-delegate producer through Iris Productions (Sunset Song). 

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes cinematographer Kolja Brandt (Hector and the Search for Happiness), production designer Bernd Lepel (Downfall), costume designer Nicole Fischnaller (A Most Wanted Man), makeup designers Waldemar Pokromski (The White Ribbon, The Pianist) and Claudine Moureaud, sound recordist Carlo Thoss (The Girl with the Pearl Earring) and editor Hansjörg Weissbrich (Night Train to Lisbon). 

The film will be co-produced by Rat Pack Filmproduktion, in association with ProSieben and Sky, supported by FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFA German Federal Film Board, German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), Luxembourg Film Fund and the MEDIA program of the EU.

Emma Watson is represented by Markham, Froggatt & Irwin (UK) and WME (US). 

Daniel Brühl is represented by Players (Germany), Tavistock Wood (UK) and WME (US).