British actor to play Dutch master Rembrandt
AMSTERDAM (Hollywood Reporter) - British actor Martin Freeman will play Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn in “Nightwatching,” which director Peter Greenaway will begin shooting next month, said producer Kees Kasander.
“Nightwatching” will focus on the creation of “The Nightwatch,” one of Rembrandt’s most famous paintings, and the effect it had on his private life. The women in his life will be played by Sarah Polley (Saskia) and Minnie Driver (Geertje). The project is closely linked with an exhibition on Rembrandt, also titled “Nightwatching,” developed by Greenaway for the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum.
The film is part of the massive celebration of the 400th birthday of Rembrandt this year in the Netherlands. At least 1.5 million tourists are expected to visit Leiden and Amsterdam, the cities where Rembrandt spent most of his life.
Shooting of “Nightwatching” will take place in the Netherlands, Poland and Wales. The budget of the film is about EUR6 million ($7.5 million). The life of Rembrandt has been portrayed in several other films, including Alexander Korda’s 1936 biopic “Rembrandt.”
Freeman’s credits include “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “Shaun of the Dead.”