EXCLUSIVE: India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte) and Damian Hardung (Maxton Hall – The World Between Us) have signed on to star in the coming-of-age drama Into The Deep Blue.
The film’s script from writer and novelist Jennifer Archer was selected for the 2022 Nicholl Fellowship by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The plot follows Nick (Hardung) and Fiona (Amarteifio), best friends who met in group therapy and are struggling to piece their lives together after experiencing loss. The synopsis reads: The last thing they need is to fall in love. When a weekend trip brings their deepening feelings to the surface, they might sooner cut each other off than face them.
The film will be directed by Jonathan Wright (Awakening the Zodiac) and will shoot in the UK. Producing are Aletha Shepherd and Jennifer Presser of production outfit Shot of Tea. Singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter had previously been set to star but we understand she is no longer attached to the project.
Audiences will best recognize Hardung from Prime Video’s Maxton Hall – The World Between Us. The German-language YA series is the streamer’s most-watched international show of all time — a record it hit in its first week of release. Amarteifio is best known as Queen Charlotte in Netflix’s Bridgerton spinoff from Shonda Rhimes.
Previous winners of the Nicholl Fellowship include Nicole Beckwith (Together, Together), Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings), Susannah Gran (Unbelievable), Terri Edda Miller (The Equalizer) and Ehren Kruger (Top Gun: Maverick).
“We are thrilled to bring together such a fabulous cast for this remarkable script,” producer Aletha Shepherd said. “It’s such a joy working with such talents, especially when we know we have something truly special on our hands. We are excited to find the right home and partner to make sure this film garners the success it deserves.”
Hardung is represented by Subtitle Talent and Die Agenten, while Amarteifio is represented by Hamilton Hodell and UTA.
