It’s been well over a year since Sam Mendes’ “1917” debuted in theaters and would go on to earn good box office and acclaim, including a stunning 10 Oscar nominations (winning 3). Clearly, Mendes is taking his time with choosing what will be his next feature. But it appears that after the long wait, we finally know which film the director will be helming next.
According to Deadline, Sam Mendes is set to write and direct “Empire of Light,” with Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman being eyed to star. Not much is known about the film, but the general premise involves a love story in the 1980s that is centered on an old cinema on the South Coast of England. In addition to Mendes working with Colman for the film, the report claims that Roger Deakins, who won an Oscar working with the filmmaker on “1917,” is returning as cinematographer.
As mentioned, this marks the first feature since 2019’s “1917” for Mendes. Previous to that, he was probably best known for helming two James Bond features, “Spectre” and “Skyfall,” as well as acclaimed dramas such as “Revolutionary Road,” “Road to Perdition,” and “American Beauty.”
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With a filmography like that, it’s obvious why Colman, who known for a wide variety of roles, including her Oscar-winning performance in “The Favorite,” would be keen to join Mendes on his latest venture. In addition to her aforementioned ‘Favorite’ performance, she recently received acclaim for her role in Netflix’s Emmy-winning drama, “The Crown,” as well as a recent Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in “The Father.”
An exact production start date has yet to be revealed for “Empire of Light,” but with Deakins, Colman, and Mendes teaming up, you better believe this is a film that everyone is going to be following closely.