MAISIE WILLIAMS JOINS BILL NIGHY AND ROMAN GRIFFIN DAVIS FOR 500 MILES, FROM BAFTA WINNING DIRECTOR MORGAN MATTHEWS; BETA CINEMA REVEALS FURTHER DEALS

Maisie Williams is attached to play free-spirited street musician Kait in 500 Miles, a thrilling road movie that packs a huge emotional punch. William’s Kait joins sixteen-year-old runaway Finn, (Griffin Davis), on a journey across land and sea to reach Finn’s estranged grandfather John (Nighy), living off-the-radar on Ireland’s stunning and wild west coast.

Producers David Thompson, Alex Gordon and Keren Misgav Ristvedt said "We’re thrilled to have Maisie on board. She’s an outstanding and unique talent and together with Bill and Roman we have a dream cast coming together who will make an unforgettable movie.”

500 Miles is a production of Origin Pictures, Port Pictures and Minnow Films that is being prepped to shoot later this year in Ireland, with the support of Fís Éíreann /Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán. True Brit Entertainment had acquired UK & Ireland rights from Beta Cinema during at EFM with Zygi Kamasa joining as an Executive Producer. Beta Cinema now has sold 500 Miles also to Australia & New Zealand (Kismet Movies), Middle East (Front Row), Italy (Maestro Distribution), Benelux (September Film), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment) and Former Yugoslavia (Discovery). Aardwolf Films have picked up world-wide airline rights.

500 Miles will be directed by BAFTA Award winner Morgan Matthews - director of acclaimed drama X+Y (A Brilliant Young Mind), starring Asa Butterfield and Sally Hawkins, and beloved documentary Williams - from a script by award-winning writer Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did, Herself, Ackley Bridge), based on the much-loved novel Charlie and Me by Mark Lowery. 

Maisie Williams (The New Look, Pistol, Game of Thrones), Emmy award nominated for her role on the HBO hit, joins Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning Bill Nighy (Living, About Time, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), and Roman Griffin Davis, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for his lead role in Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit.

Former Head of BBC Films David Thompson (Billy Elliot, Notes on a Scandal, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) is producing with Alex Gordon and Keren Misgav Ristvedt for Origin Pictures (Woman in Gold, The Sense of an Ending, A Brilliant Young Mind), Martina Niland (Once, Sing Street) from Dublin based Port Pictures, and Matthews’ Minnow Films. 

Beta Cinema will continue preselling 500 Miles at the Marché du Film in Cannes.