EXCLUSIVE: Monty Python star John Cleese and Gomorrah actor Fortunato Cerlino have been confirmed to us as amongst supporting solid for Roman Polanski’s new film The Palace, which is in manufacturing in Switzerland.

German actor Oliver Masucci and French actress Fanny Ardant lead solid within the film, which Wild Bunch is dealing with for gross sales. Mickey Rourke additionally stars.

The drama, set on New Yr’s Eve 1999 in an opulent lodge, sees the lives of lodge employees and numerous friends intertwine. Script comes from Polanski and fellow Polish veteran Jerzy Skolimowsk whereas crew contains Polanski’s common cinematographer Pawel Edelman.

The challenge was first introduced final 12 months by Italian broadcaster Rai as a part of their slate. Italian actor-producer Luca Barbareschi is lead producer through his Eliseo Leisure firm. CAB Productions is the Swiss co-producer with Polish outfit Fortunate Bob additionally aboard.

Polanski, director of movies together with The Pianist, Chinatown and Rosemary’s Child, stays a lightning rod for controversy within the trade and past as a consequence of his 1977 arrest and cost within the U.S. for drugging and raping a 13-year-old lady. Polanski pleaded responsible to the lesser cost of illegal intercourse with a minor. Upon studying that the U.S. decide deliberate to reject his plea deal and impose a jail time period as a substitute of probation, he fled to Paris. Consequently, Polanski is a fugitive from America.

Final month a bunch of Swiss technicians, actors and filmmakers – writing in Swiss publication Le Temps – denounced the brand new manufacturing for giving the filmmaker a platform.

Regardless of his conviction and 2018 expulsion from the Academy in America, the Oscar winner has continued to work in Europe and garner awards. His newest movie An Officer And A Spy gained three César Awards in France and 4 prizes on the Venice Movie Pageant in 2020. Nonetheless, a number of members of France’s César Academy resigned following an outcry over the movie’s 12 nominations. The large-budget drama achieved extensive distribution in Europe and backing from a number of European firms, however no UK or U.S. distributor would choose the movie up.

Oscar nominee Cleese is finest recognized for his work in comedy troupe Monty Python, basic British TV collection Fawlty Towers and films resembling A Fish Referred to as Wanda. Veteran Italian actor Cerlino is finest recognized for portraying mafia boss Pietro Savastano in hit TV collection Gomorrah.