WestEnd Films acquires worldwide rights to The Last Rifleman
Date Posted: September 1, 2020
WestEnd Films has acquired worldwide rights to THE LAST RIFLEMAN, a drama starring Pierce Brosnan and directed by Terry Loane (Mickybo and Me).
Inspired by true events, THE LAST RIFLEMAN is a moving and heartfelt drama that follows Artie Crawford, a World War II veteran living in a care home in Northern Ireland who has just lost his wife. On the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, Artie decides to secretly escape his care home and embarks on an arduous but inspirational journey to France, to pay his final respects to his best friend and find the courage to face the ghosts of his past.
The story is inspired by World War II veteran Bernard Jordan who, at 89 years-old, sneaked out of his care home in East Sussex, boarded a bus to Portsmouth, got on a ferry to France and made his way to Normandy for the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in June 2014.
Developed with funding from Northern Ireland Screen, the film was written by Kevin Fitzpatrick and is produced by Katy Jackson and John Leslie from Wee Buns (Zoo, Bad Day for the Cut, The Devil’s Doorway). It is co-produced by Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright from Ripple World Pictures (Never Grow Old, Wisting, Zoo). Academy Award nominee Mark Huffam (Mamma Mia!, The Martian, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant), Kevin Jackson (Zoo, The Truth Commissioner), Nick Leese, Eloise Singer (Rare Beasts) and Tommy Curran are executive producing.
Crew members include Academy Award-winning composer Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love, Billy Elliot) and make-up designer Clare Ramsey (The Hobbit trilogy, 300: Rise of an Empire, Quantum of Solace).
Writer Kevin Fitzpatrick said, “Bernard Jordan’s daring journey caught the nation’s attention and highlighted the spirit that epitomised the second world war generation. I was enthralled by this story and the motives that drive a man near the end of his life on a quest to a place that must hold only painful memories. Why was he returning now? What ghosts still haunted him? The Last Rifleman is a story of guilt, regret and one man’s quest to finally face the ghosts of his past and find peace within himself.”
Director Terry Loane said, “When I first read Kevin’s screenplay, I found it to be a beautifully touching story with an honest heart and soul. It is the script that directors search for: a powerful, character-led drama that perfectly balances heart and pathos. The personal price paid by those in the aftermath of war is something that resonates with all ages, all over the world. With the recent anniversary of the end of WW2, I feel the timing is perfect to tell this story, while an ever-diminishing handful of veterans are still with us to share their lives”.
“We’re thrilled to board THE LAST RIFLEMAN, which is such an emotional and powerful story that deserves to be told. We were highly impressed by Kevin Fitzpatrick’s incredible script and Terry Loane’s great vision for the story and we couldn’t be more excited now that Pierce Brosnan has joined the project. This will be a must-see film which will attract a wide audience and we can’t wait to share it with buyers” said Maya Amsellem, the managing director of WestEnd Films.
Principal photography will begin this winter in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. WestEnd will be introducing the film to buyers during TIFF. CAA and WestEnd are co-repping US rights.
