07/03/2014 - The bestselling literary adaption reunites Tom Tykwer and Tom Hanks with the producers of Cloud Atlas

In Morocco, German writer-director Tom Tykwer (Cloud Atlas [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile]) has begun principal photography for his new title, A Hologram for the King [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which is based on the eponymous novel by Dave Eggers. Set in an up-and-coming Saudi Arabian city, the comedy-drama tells the story of an American businessman who makes a last-ditch attempt to stave off bankruptcy and finally accomplish something big. He wants to present his project to the king, who, unfortunately, does not grace him with his presence. In the blistering heat, the manager and his IT team continue waiting for days, weeks and even months.

The political and economic allegory stars multiple Oscar winner Tom Hanks alongside British and American actors such as Sarita Choudhury (Homeland), Omar Elba (Intelligence), Tracey Fairaway (Enough Said), David Menkin (Zero Dark Thirty) and Tom Skerritt (Top Gun). A Hologram for the King reunites Hanks with director Tykwer and German producers Stefan Arndt and Uwe Schott, who previously worked together on Cloud Atlas, which grossed over $130 million globally.

For this independently financed production, Arndt (Amour [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michael Haneke
film profile]) and Schott (Me and Kaminski) from Berlin-based X Filme Creative Pool have teamed up with Arcadiy Golubovich and Timothy D. O’Hair of Primeridian as well as with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman (Mamma Mia! [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) of Playtone. In Germany, this promising production is receiving €2.1 million in support from the German Federal Film Fund and €1 million from the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

The executive producers of the film are Dave Eggers, Steven Shareshian of Playtone, Claudia Bluemhuber of Silver Reel, Gaston Pavlovich of Fabrica de Cine, and Bill Johnson and Jim Seibel of Lotus International, which is handling international sales.

Shooting will be taking place in Morocco and Germany, where it will continue until June. German arthouse distributor X Verleih will release A Hologram for the King in Germany in 2015.