So some of you who follow us on Twitter might have seen me talking about how Benedict Cumberbatch said to me “Just because Rob’s agreed to do the film doesn’t mean he’s going to actually film it”.  This part of the conversation came about because I wanted him to sign Jules’ edit above as a surprise for her birthday.  Anyway I won’t go into full detail of the entire conversation, but I unleashed this because Rob mentions in his new interview that they are filming in January in Colombia.  Both Vertigo and I were shattered when he said this to me because we feared that Rob may be pulling out of the film.   As it turns out, according to The Playlist:

“What is going to happen and will be next following Gray’s upcoming period drama, “The Immigrant” starring Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner, is his long-gestating adaptation of the book “The Lost City of Z” (ironically, a project that Brad Pitt’s Plan B brought to him several years ago).

“’The Lost City of Z’ looks like it will happen,” Gray said with his casual cautiousness. “That’s got Benedict Cumberbatch [in the lead] who’s perfectly cast. I’ve raised the money for that, and I may go do that in January.” (Though last night at BAMcinematek, during a Q&A which yours truly moderated, Gray said September). Co-starring Robert Pattinson, who Gray confirmed is still attached and recently also said the film would likely shoot in Jan, “The Lost City Of Z” is set in 1925 and centers on a legendary British explorer who ventured into the Amazon jungle in search of a fabled civilization and never again returned. [My emphasis]

Gray said the shooting locations will likely be the U.K., and for the jungle sequences, Colombia. What kind of movie should we expect? Last we spoke Gray teased the movie as “epic and hallucinogenic.”

To read full article click here

Anyway to clarify why Benedict wouldn’t sign the edit, he said he hasn’t filmed it yet and that’s why he wouldn’t do it.   Believe me he told me this at length a few times – ask Vertigo.  She said it was hysterical to watch someone shut me down *oops*.  I love Benedict and I sat on this because imagine the frenzy if I mentioned this back in April.  James has just confirmed above that Rob’s still attached and perhaps I was asking these questions at the time when things may have been up in the air.  All I know is that I want to see these two together on a promo tour because it’s going to be priceless.

PS.  Jules hopes it’s okay I unleashed the edit

Read our Benedict experience here

 

According to Cinando both films are listed to be included at the Cannes Film Market – makes sense.  Won’t surprise me if Life and QoTD will be there also lookingn for distributors #KingofCannes.  I have to admit though I’m still a little nervous about LCoZ since both films are due to film in June.   I know they are supporting roles not leads so it’s possible he can do both, I guess time will tell.

 

Source via / via

So, this happened today, yes Vertigo and I went to OzComic-Con’s intimate event with Benedict Cumberbatch and met him (and no I’m not posting our photos with him).  I also had him autograph my copy of Lost City of Z and found it a perfect segueway to ask him about filming.

Nicholas Bell of ioncinema has listed ‘The Lost City Of  Z’ in their Top 200 Most Anticipated Films for 2014 – smart man.  Here’s what he had to say:

Top 200 Most Anticipated Films for 2014: #52. James Gray’s Lost City of Z

Director: James Gray
Writer: James Gray
Producers: Dede Gardner, Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner
U.S. Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Pattinson

During Cannes 2013, where Gray premiered his latest film, The Immigrant (which should see theatrical released sometime in 2014), it was announced that he would be working on an untitled sci-fi project. That appears to be something still brewing as not long after, news broke about this long gestating project based on the book by David Grann, something that was once rumored to be a project for Brad Pitt, who is now producing. With Cumberbatch and Pattinson both on a hot streak with their career selection, this union with Gray should definitely be a hot commodity in the coming year.

Gist: Based on the book by David Grann, “Lost City of Z” follows Percy Fawcett, a British colonial who disappeared in the 1920s while searching for a mythical city in the Amazon jungles of Brazil that he believed he discovered on a prior expedition.

Release Date: While it’s still listed as being in pre-production, we’re hoping this gets some traction soon, but with Pattinson in high demand and several projects lined-up, this will need a shooting date sometime soon for fall/winter 2014 release.

“with Pattinson in high demand ” – oh yeah, he sure is 😀  Have said it before & I’ll say it again, cannot wait to hear more about this project & hopefully a mention of when filming may start.  Keeping fingers crossed.

UPDATE: Production Weekly has now changed the status back to the original Summer 2014.  Fingers crossed for some solid news very soon.

In Production Weekly’s last update which we posted here, the status for the film was listed as Summer 2014 & now in this latest update the status has changed to Spring 2014 – excites. Great to see that things are moving along.  Cannot wait to hear more news on this project & on who Rob is playing.  I really loved Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance  in August; Osage County, am so looking forward to Rob & him working together.  Exciting times in 2014, oh so very exciting 🙂

“THE LOST CITY OF Z”
PLAN B ENTERTAINMENT
9150 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 350 Beverly Hills, CA 90212
PHONE: 310-275-6135 FAX: 310-275-5234
STATUS: Summer 2014
PRODUCER: Dede Gardner – Jeremy Kleiner – Anthony Katagas WRITER/DIRECTOR: James Gray
CAST: Benedict Cumberbatch – Robert Pattinson
PANORAMA MEDIA 9536 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 206, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310-858-1001
ANNAPURNA PICTURES 10777 Ashton Ave., Ste. 102, Los Angeles, CA 90027 310-724-5678 Fax: 310-724-8964
SIERRA/AFFINITY 9378 Wilshire Blvd., # 210, Beverly Hills, CA, 90212 424-253-1060 Fax: 424-653-1977

After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed New Yorker writer David Grann set out to solve “the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century”: What happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z? In 1925 Fawcett ventured into the Amazon to find an ancient civilization, hoping to make one of the most important discoveries in history. For centuries Europeans believed the world’s largest jungle concealed the glittering kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands had died looking for it, leaving many scientists convinced that the Amazon was truly inimical to humankind. But Fawcett, whose daring expeditions helped inspire Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, had spent years building his scientific case. Captivating the imagination of millions around the globe, Fawcett embarked with his twenty-one-year-old son, determined to prove that
this ancient civilization—which he dubbed “Z”—existed. Then he and his expedition vanished.

Source|Via

I LOVE how things are moving along for the film. How much do we have to look forward to this year – seriously so exciting. I know I said this the other day but I am so looking forward to finding out who Rob is playing – cannot wait.

From The Film Catalogue: