Lionsgate has picked up all rights in North American and the U.K. for The Trapp Family, a drama based on the real-life story of the Austrian family that inspired the classic musical The Sound of Music.
The film, which Germany’s Tele Munchen Group (TMG) is producing, is currently shooting. It stars Matthew Macfadyen (Anna Karenina) as marine officer and family patriarch Georg von Trapp and Broadchurch actress Eliza Bennett as Agathe, his eldest, and most rebellious daughter.
Vanessa Redgrave plays an elder Agathe, who after escaping the Nazis to emigrate to America, recounts her story to a young niece. German actress and pop star Yvonne Catterfeld plays Maria von Trapp, a figure made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1965 musical. Opera singer Annette Dasch and German actor Johannes Nussbaum have supporting roles.
Dutch director Ben Verbong is helming The Trapp Family, an adaptation of Agathe von Trapp’s autobiography Memories Before and After the Sound of Music. Tim Sullivan (Letters to Juliet) and Christoph Silber (Good Bye Lenin) co-wrote the script.
TMG’s production shingles Clasart and Concorde Media are producing The Trapp Family in cooperation with Austrian public broadcaster ORF. Rikolt von Gagern is producing with TMG head Herbert G. Kloiber as executive producer. TMG’s Concode will release the film in Germany, with Constantin Film handling its Austrian release. TMG is handling worldwide sales through its TM International division.
The Lionsgate deal was negotiated by Jim Packer, Lionsgate president worldwide TV and digital distribution and senior vp acquisitions, Marc Danon and Thomas Augsberger on behalf of TMG.
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