As reported on Indiewire, Emily Blunt’s period vehicle “The Young Victoria” was picked up by new film distribution company Apparition, which was jointly opened earlier this year by former Picturehouse (a joint venture of New Line and HBO Films) head Bob Berney and producer Bill Pohlad (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Into The Wild”). Berney is the marketing mind behind “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “The Passion of the Christ.” The L.A. Times reported on his partnership with Pohlad after he was let go last year when Time Warner opted to close Picturehouse and Warner Independent — so all eyes have been on what Apparition would pick up at this year’s festivals (so far “Bright Star,” “Tree Of Life” and now, ‘Victoria’).
“The Young Victoria” is set to close out the Toronto Film Fest and fielded interest from Miramax, Overture and Roadside Attractions but ultimately Apparition bid down the highest. From the looks of the trailer, it might well be to Emily Blunt the sort of breakthrough acting role that “Elizabeth” was to Cate Blanchett. She will certainly carry the film on her shoulders playing the title role. Indiewire pointed out that period pieces don’t always sell well on DVD and we’d say their concern for this movie is right on the money. Even the trailer, embedded below, is topically unclear unless you are familiar with Victorian era history in the United Kingdom.
It appears this movie will cover the early years of Queen Victoria, who ascended to the throne shortly after her 18th birthday, married her first cousin Prince Albert, presided over the greatest period of British expansion in the history of the empire and lived through four assassination attempts the first of which occurred during her first pregnancy.
The film will be released this November in the U.S., right smack in the middle of awards nominee season.