– The adaptation of Sándor Márai’s classic novel is now being shot in Budapest and marks a high-profile European co-production
Ralph Fiennes (left) and Viggo Mortensen in Embers (© Mike Ramsey)
Principal photography has begun in Budapest on Embers, the latest feature by István Szabó, starring Ralph Fiennes and Viggo Mortensen. The project, announced by Serendipity Point Films and HGO Films, reunites the Hungarian filmmaker with long-time collaborator Robert Lantos on what is being positioned as a prestige literary adaptation with strong international appeal.
Penned by Christopher Hampton and based on Sándor Márai’s acclaimed novel, Embers centres on two once-inseparable friends, Henrik and Konrad, who reunite decades after a mysterious disappearance. Over the course of a single evening, long-buried secrets emerge, revolving around betrayal, memory and the woman who came between them.
The film brings together a notable ensemble cast, including Charlotte Rampling, Katherine Langford, Louis Hofmann and Gijs Blom, alongside Evelyne Brochu and Jonah Russell. The project marks a reunion of key collaborators from Sunshine, with Szabó, Lantos and Fiennes working together again after their previous, award-winning partnership.
Hampton, who previously adapted Márai’s novel for the stage in London’s West End, later developed the screenplay for the screen. Szabó described the script as a long-awaited project: he and Lantos, he noted, had been “waiting to film the best script” he had encountered, praising both the source material and Hampton’s adaptation.
For Lantos, the film represents what he calls a “dream team”, bringing together collaborators he has worked with across multiple projects. Fiennes also highlighted the significance of the reunion, noting his long-standing desire to work again with Szabó, while describing his on-set experience alongside Mortensen and the Hungarian crew as “extraordinary”. Mortensen, for his part, framed the project as a rare artistic opportunity, emphasising the challenge of working within Hampton’s adaptation of Márai’s novel.
Produced by Lantos and Tibor Krsko, with Ari Lantos and Laura Lanktree also on board, Embers is a co-production between Serendipity Point Films (Canada), HGO Films (Hungary) and Potboiler Productions (UK). The film is backed by a range of international partners, including MTVA (Hungary), Beta Film (Germany), Bell Media (Canada) and CBC Films (Canada), underlining its multi-territorial financing structure. London-based sales agent Embankment Films is handling its international sales. Moreover, the executive producers are Jan Mojto, Atom Egoyan, Tim Haslam and Andrea Calderwood, with Hampton and Jeff Sackman serving as co-executive producers.
Described by Embankment’s Tim Haslam as a “high-stakes psychological duel”, the pic promises to lean heavily on performance and dialogue, in line with the introspective tone of Márai’s novel. The creative team includes composer Mychael Danna, production designer Attila F Kovács, cinematographer Dániel Garas, costume designer Bea Merkovits and editor David Wharnsby, whilst casting was handled by Nina Gold.
The release date is yet to be confirmed.
