EXCLUSIVE: Three-time Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) and Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) are leading cast in Oscar winner István Szabó’s (Mephisto) under-the-radar period drama Embers, which has begun filming in Budapest, Hungary.

Also joining the cast in the prestige pic are Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (45 Years), Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why), Louis Hofmann (All The Light We Cannot See), Gijs Blom (The Kollective), Evelyne Brochu (French Girl), and Jonah Russell (Lady Chatterly’s Lover). 

Adapted by two-time Oscar winner Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liasons) from Sándor Márai’s acclaimed novel, the film reunites Hungarian auteur Szabó’ with his Sunshine (and Being Julia) producer Robert Lantos and that film’s star, Fiennes. It also marks a reunion between Lantos and Eastern Promises star Mortensen.

The synopsis reads: “Embers reconnects once inseparable friends, Henrik (Fiennes) and Konrad (Mortensen), decades after Konrad’s mysterious disappearance and uncovers over the course of one evening the secret that tore them apart—and the woman at the center of it.”

Below are first-look images of Fiennes, Mortensen and Langford in the film, which has been described as a “psychological duel” between Fiennes and Mortensen’s characters.

Embankment Films will be launching sales on the project ahead of the Cannes market. Lantos produces for Serendipity Point Films and Tibor Krsko for HGO Films.

Embers, credit Mike Ramsey

Hampton first adapted Márai’s novel as a stage play in 2006. Following its run on London’s West End, he is then said by the producers to have delivered a screen draft to Szabó with a single message, “In hope”. The film is Szabó’s first in six years and only his second since 2012. It was conceived by the filmmaker with Lantos and Fiennes in mind as collaborators.

Joining Szabó in the crew are Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna (Life Of Pi), production designer Attila F. Kovacs (Sunshine), cinematographer Dániel Garas (Rise Of The Raven), costume designer Bea Merkovits (Rise Of The Raven) and editor David Wharnsby (Away From Her). The film was cast by Academy Award nominee Nina Gold (Hamnet).

“Since Christopher Hampton sent it to me, Robert Lantos and I have been waiting to film the best script I have ever held in my hands. The basis, Márai’s novel, is one of the most beautiful works of 20^th Century fiction. Christopher perfectly adapted the novel for film,” Szabó said today.

“I had long hoped to be reunited with István Szabó on another film. Robert Lantos has brought us together with Christopher Hampton’s wonderful adaptation of Embers. One of the great joys of this project was to be able to work with Viggo Mortensen, he is a great actor who I have admired for many years. It was something extraordinary to be on the set with him, István and a superb Hungarian crew,” commented Conclave star Fiennes. 

Embers, credit: Nelly Kiss

Ari Lantos (Remember) is also a producer, and Laura Lanktree (Crimes Of The Future) is co-producer. Executive producers include Jan Mojto, Atom Egoyan, Tim Haslam, and Andrea Calderwood, with Hampton and Jeff Sackman as co-executive producers.

“Embers is a high stakes psychological duel, in which a moment of desire and betrayal defines a lifetime,” commented Embankment’s Tim Haslam.

Embers is a Serendipity Point Films, HGO Films, Potboiler Productions co-production. It is produced with the support of MTVA, Beta Film, Bell Media, and CBC Films. 

Fiennes is represented by 42 Management and Production, CAA, and SOWDLLP. Mortensen is represented by UTA, and GGSSC. Rampling is represented by Diamond Management, and Time-Art. Gersh representsLangford, along with Brillstein Partners. Louis Hofmann is represented by CAA, United Artists, and GGSSC. The Artists Partnership and Henneman represent Gijs Blom.