Crimson Peak is an upcoming film directed by Guillermo del Toro and written by del Toro,
Matthew Robbins and Lucinda Coxon.
The film stars Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, and Jim Beaver.
It will be produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Universal Pictures.
The film is scheduled to be released on October 16, 2015.
Synopsis Set in Cumbria, in a crumbling mansion in
a largely rural and mountainous region of northern England in the 19th century, young
author Edith Cushing discovers that her charming new husband Sir Thomas Sharpe is not who he
appears to be.
Cast Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing
Sofia Wells as Young Edith
Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe, Edith's husband, a "charming hero with a mysterious
past" Jessica Chastain as Lady Lucille Sharpe, Sir
Thomas's sister Charlie Hunnam as Dr. Alan McMichael, a "quiet,
shy, thoughtful kind of stoic, taciturn, very learned guy who is madly in love with the
female hero" Jim Beaver as Carter Cushing
Leslie Hope as Mrs. McMichael, Alan's mother Burn Gorman as Holly
Javier Botet Doug Jones
Emily Coutts as Eunice McMichael Matia Jackett as Young Eunice
Production Pre-production
Del Toro and Robbins wrote the original spec script after the release of Pan's Labyrinth
in 2006.
It was sold quietly to Donna Langley at Universal.
Del Toro planned to direct the film, but postponed the project to make Hellboy II: The Golden
Army, and again to work on The Hobbit films.
Langley suggested that del Toro produce the film for another director, but he could not
find one he deemed suitable.
While directing Pacific Rim, del Toro developed a good working relationship with Legendary
Pictures' Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, who asked what he wanted to do next.
Del Toro sent them his screenplays for a film adaptation of At the Mountains of Madness,
a Western adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo, and Crimson Peak.
The producers deemed the latter "the best project for us, just the right size".
Universal allowed del Toro to move the project to Legendary, with the caveat that they could
put up money for a stake in the film.
Del Toro called the film a "ghost story and gothic romance".
He described it as "a very set-oriented, classical but at the same time modern take on the ghost
story", and said that it would allow him to play with the genres' conventions while subverting
their rules.
He stated, "I think people are getting used to horror subjects done as found footage or
B-value budgets.
I wanted this to feel like a throwback."
Del Toro wanted the film to honor the "grand dames" of the haunted house genre, namely
Robert Wise's The Haunting and Jack Clayton's The Innocents.
The director intended to make a large-scale horror film in the tradition of those he grew
up watching, such as The Omen, The Exorcist, and The Shining.
He cited the latter as "another Mount Everest of the haunted house movie", praising the
high production value and Stanley Kubrick's control over the large sets.
British playwright Lucinda Coxon was enlisted to rewrite the script with del Toro in hopes
of bringing it a "proper degree of perversity and intelligence".
Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Stone were originally cast but both dropped out of the production.
Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska took over their roles respectively.
The film is titled under production as Haunted Peak but Legendary Pictures assured that the
film's title has not changed, the title is only the one being used for the studio booking.
In the summer of 2013, Burn Gorman joined the cast for a cameo role.
At the beginning of October 2013, Jessica Chastain went through a full-body cast process
for the film.
She posted pictures on her Facebook of her getting her head, torso, and fists cast.
In October 2013, Fernando Velázquez signed on to compose the film's score.
It was also announced that Callum Greene, Jon Jashni and Thomas Tull would help produce
the film.
Filming Principal photography began in Toronto at
Pinewood Toronto Studios on February 10 and ended on May 14, 2014.
On April 28, filming began on Queen Street South, between Main Street and King Street
in Hamilton, Ontario.
That section of roadway was closed to traffic and covered in topsoil to assist in the look
of the setting.
The gothic-looking Scottish Rite building to the west will figure prominently.
Filming also took place in Kingston, Ontario on April 14, 2014.
On January 30, 2014, it was announced that the film would be released on October 16,
2015.
Promotion
At the San Diego Comic-Con International on 23 July 2014, del Toro helped create props
for the Legendary Pictures booth by allowing fans to walk through snow-covered gates, and
a gallery of props from the set and costumes from the film, including a bloody knife and
moth print in the wallpaper that spells out the word "fear".
References
External links Crimson Peak at the Internet Movie Database