Rachel Hurd-Wood boards Second Origin

Rising British actress Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan, Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer) is to star in Second Origin, the new film that maverick Spanish director Bigas Luna was originally slated to direct.

Here at the EFM, Manifest Film Sales today announced the imminent start of production on the project.

Bigas Luna who sadly died during the pre-production, is still being billed as co-director. His friend, co-writer and director Carles Porta is now helming.

A science-fiction romance about love and adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world, Second Origin tells the story of Alba and Dídac two young people struggling to survive in a world left in ruins.  

Based on the bestselling Catalan novel Mecanoscrit del Segon Origen by Manuel de Pedrolo, which has sold over 2m copies worldwide, Second Origin is a Spanish/UK co-production, produced by Oscar Rodriguez for Antàrtida Produccions and Christine Alderson for Ipso Facto Productions.

Shooting starts in Lleida and Barcelona for seven weeks from Feb 17.

International sales are handled by Manifest Film Sales and VFX and post production takes place in the UK at London’s Lip Sync. The film is financed by ICEC, ICAA, Televisio de Catalunya, Television Espanola, Diputacio de Lleida, Ajuntament de Lleida,  Lipsync Productions, Premiere Picture and Jenson Solutions provided SEIS funding.

“We’re delighted to have Rachel Hurd-Wood on board. She brings just the right balance of warmth and truth to this great script,” commented Alderson.

The first footage should be available in time for Cannes.