'Asylum' shooting begins in Leeds

Shooting has begun in Leeds on 'Young Adam' director David Mackenzie's new film, 'Asylum'.
The production will move from Leeds to locations in and around Dublin with a wrap scheduled for mid-October.
Based on Patrick McGrath's celebrated novel of erotic obsession, 'Asylum' was adapted for the screen by award-winning writer Patrick Marber ('Closer'). Tony Award-winner Natasha Richardson stars alongside Ian McKellen ('The Lord of the Rings'), Marton Csokas ('Rain'), Hugh Bonneville ('Iris') and 10 year-old Augustus Jeremiah Lewis in his feature debut.
In the late 1950s, when her husband Max (Bonneville) takes up his post as deputy director of a remote psychiatric hospital, Stella Raphael (Richardson) and her young son, Charlie (Lewis) are brought to live on the grounds of the 'Asylum'. Stella is soon drawn to charismatic inmate Edgar Stark (Csokas). Undeterred by the warnings from her husband's colleague, Dr. Cleave (McKellen), Stella is prepared to risk everything to be with Edgar. Their passionate affair escalates as obsession begins to threaten Stella's love, her sanity and her very life.
In addition to her Tony-winning performance in Sam Mendes' and Rob Marshall's Broadway production of 'Cabaret', Natasha Richardson's diverse film credits include her acclaimed performances in 'The Handmaid's Tale' and "Patty Hearst" 'as well as the popular "The Parent Trap" and "Maid in Manhattan". Ian McKellen will soon be appearing in the final installment of 'The Lord of the Rings'. His numerous credits include the title role in 'Richard III' and the Academy Award-winning 'Gods and Monsters'. Having co-starred in the director's Oscar-winning 'Iris', Hugh Bonneville has recently completed filming on Richard Eyre's 'Compleat Female Stage Beauty'. Marton Csokas impressed critics and audiences in fellow New Zealander Christine Jeffs' 'Rain'' and will be seen in the upcoming 'Evilenko', 'Timeline' and 'The Great Raid'. 'Asylum' also features Joss Ackland ('K-19: The Widowmaker'); Sean Harris ('24 Hour Party People'); Judy Parfitt ('Girl with a Pearl Earring') and Maria Aitken ('Jinnah'; 'A Fish Called Wanda').
'Asylum' is produced by Mace Neufeld ('The Sum of All Fears'; 'The Hunt for Red October') and Laurence Borg ('Four Feathers'; 'Little Voice'). David Collins co-produces for Samson Films with executive producers Woodfall Films, Michael Barlow, Chris Curling and Robert Rehme.
(GB)