Principal photography has officially commenced on the comedy Gambit. The production launched in London on May 5. This project features a high-profile cast led by Cameron Díaz and Academy Award winner Colin Firth.
Firth, known for his role in The King’s Speech, stars alongside Cameron Diaz. Diaz’s credits include The Green Hornet and There’s Something About Mary. The two lead a narrative scripted by Academy Award winners Joel and Ethan Coen.
The supporting cast features Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman. Rickman is recognized for his work in the Harry Potter series and Alice in Wonderland. Sir Tom Courtenay, a BAFTA award winner known for The Golden Compass, also joins the ensemble.
Additional cast members include Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci. Tucci previously starred in Julie & Julia. Veteran comedic actress and Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman has also joined the production.
Michael Hoffman is directing the film. The screenplay comes from the Coen brothers, famous for True Grit and No Country for Old Men. Production is being handled by Mike Lobell alongside Adam Ripp and Rob Paris from Crime Scene Pictures.
Filming is scheduled to take place in both London and New Mexico. The plot follows British art curator Harry Deane, played by Firth. Deane concocts a plan to swindle the wealthiest man in England.
The target is Lionel Shabandar, an avid art collector played by Rickman. Deane intends to trick him into purchasing a counterfeit Monet painting. To execute the bait, the curator requires assistance from across the Atlantic.
Deane recruits a Texas rodeo queen, portrayed by Diaz. She must pose as a woman whose grandfather liberated the painting at the end of World War II. This deception is central to Deane’s scheme to fool the collector.
The technical team features Director of Photography Florian Ballhaus. His previous credits include The Devil Wears Prada and Red. Costume design is being led by Academy Award winner Jenny Beavan.
Beavan previously worked on A Room with a View and The King’s Speech. The crew also includes Hair and Makeup Chief Christine Blundell. Production Designer Stuart Craig, a three-time Oscar winner, brings experience from Gandhi and Dangerous Liaisons.
Distribution rights are split globally for the project. FilmNation Entertainment is managing releases outside the United States. CBS Films has secured distribution within the US market.
Alliance Films will distribute the movie in Canada. Momentum Pictures is set to handle the UK release. Finally, Aurum Productions will cover distribution in Spain.
