Love and war are together again in The Ottoman Lieutenant, pulling from a genre so rich that to name its predecessors would be tiresome. Needless to say, the sweeping vistas and forbidden affair seen in the trailer are sturdy building blocks for a film, and the cast is one that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Michiel Huisman receives top billing as the titular lieutenant who woos an idealistic nurse, and the actor has a history of playing similar parts in television and movies. He stayed by Daenerys’ side for several seasons of Game of Thrones and broke through a long frozen heart in The Age of Adeline. He’s sort of the love interest of the moment, so he should be able to sell an infatuation so vivid that it stands out against the onset of World War I.
The other half of the love affair is played by Hera Hilmar, who was excellent in the Icelandic hit Life in a Fishbowl and has been quietly building a profile internationally. She recently signed on to play the female lead in the Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh penned Mortal Engines, and considering that nothing the Lord of the Rings team touches nowadays is small, expect to hear a lot more about Hilmar as that film begins production.
Rounding out the cast are Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley, the later of which brings a respected name to a project that is otherwise a conglomerate of mid-level industry players. Hopefully the group can capitalize on the film’s solid setup and deliver a story worthy of its scope.
The Ottoman Lieutenant is directed by Joseph Ruben and stars Michiel Huisman, Hera Hilmar, and Josh Hartnett. It will be released in the U.S. on March 10th, 2017. Further release dates are not currently known.
Do you think The Ottoman Lieutenant will be a sweeping love story? Let us know in the comments!
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