“Valkyrie” enters Principal Photography in Berlin

Tom Cruise leads cast of international stars

Today, United Artists Entertainment LLC and Studio Babelsberg announced that filming has started on the international major production “Valkyrie”.

The suspenseful thriller tells the story of the group of dissidents around Claus von Stauffenberg and their failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler on July 20th 1944.

The movie is helmed by director Bryan Singer (“The Usual Suspects”, “Superman Returns”, “X Men”, “X-Men 2”).

The screenplay was written by Academy Award® winner Christopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”, “Way of the Gun”) and Nathan Alexander.

“Valkyrie” is Singers’ and McQuarrie’s first collaboration since their ground-braking thriller “The Usual Suspects” in 1995.

In the lead-role, superstar Tom Cruise will play the part of Oberst Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, who became a hero for the German anti-Nazi resistance by detonating a bomb in Hitler’s bunker trying to end the Nazi-rule and World War 2.

The all-star cast includes: :

Kenneth Branagh ("Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets")
Bill Nighy ("Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End")
Tom Wilkinson ("In the Bedroom")
Carice van Houten ("Black Book")
Eddie Izzard ("Ocean’s Thirteen")
Christian Berkel ("Black Book")
Thomas Kretschmann ("King Kong")
Terrence Stamp ("Superman", "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace")

The movie is produced by Singer, McQuarrie, Gilbert Adler (“Superman Returns”, “Constantine”) and executive producer Chris Lee (“Superman Returns”).

The production has assembled a talented and experienced team to support Singer, including director of photography Newton Thomas Siegel (“Superman Returns”, “X-Men 2”), costume designer Joanna Johnston (“Munich”, “War of the Worlds”) and editor John Ottman (“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”, “Superman Returns”).

"Valkyrie" is an enthralling thriller, which will enchain the viewers to their seats- at the same time it will remind the world, that also German military leaders held resistance against the Nazi Regime.
United Artists CEO, Paula Wagner

The failed attempt on Adolf Hitler on July 20th 1944 is one of the bravest yet outside of Germany widely unknown episodes of World War 2. Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg, a high-ranking Wehrmacht officer, returned to Germany after being heavily wounded in at the African front. Soon after his return, von Stauffenberg joins the German resistance to execute an intricate plan, “Operation Valkyrie” to replace Hitler’s government, as soon as the dictator is dead.

Outside circumstances and a fateful turn of events make von Stauffenberg the head of the conspiracy: Not only does he have to lead the planned coup and remain in control of quickly taking control of the government; he is the only person who can get close enough to Hitler to execute the assassination.

“’Valkyrie’ tells a story, that is extreme enthralling and important at the same time. "Bryan Singer.

„Chris McQuarrie and I wanted to realize this story together already for a long time. Thereby I can not imagine shooting this movie anywhere else than in Germany and I think it is great that we won Tom Cruise over for the role of Oberst Stauffenberg.”

„“Valkyrie“ s an enthralling thriller, which will enchain the viewers to their seats- at the same time it will remind the world, that also German military leaders held resistance against the Nazi Regime.” United Artists CEO, Paula Wagner

„Immediately after we had read the script, we knew that we have to make this movie.”

“Valkyrie” is the second production to be green-lit by United Artists since the fabled Hollywood studio was revived last November under the leadership of Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner.

The film is a co-production between United Artists and Studio Babelsberg AG, the venerable German film studio whose stages have hosted productions ranging from Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” to Paul Greengrass’s “The Bourne Ultimatum”.

The film is being shot at Studio Babelsberg as well as in Berlin and the surrounding area. MGM is planning to release the film in the summer of 2008.

About United Artists Entertainment LLC

United Artists Entertainment LLC was formed in November 2006 under a partnership between Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), with Wagner serving as Chief Executive Officer. The historic UA brand was initially founded some 85 years ago by movie greats Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and D.W. Griffith and, throughout its history, has appeared on such iconic film franchises as Rocky, The Pink Panther, and James Bond.

About Studio Babelsberg AG

Studio Babelsberg is the oldest large-scale studio complex in the world and one of Europe’s leading service providers for movie and TV production. For 95 years, film history has been made in Babelsberg. Countless renowned filmmakers have worked with Studio Babelsberg, employing Babelsberg to produce great movies: Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock, Roman Polanski, Kevin Spacey, to name just a few. With a unique set of services that make Studio Babelsberg a one-stop-shop, the Studio has the ability to carry a production trough all phases of production at one location, offering ideal conditions for domestic and international film- and television production.