Based on Amor Towles‘ acclaimed novel, A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is set amidst the Bolshevik Revolution which would change Russia forever. At the center of the story is Alexander (Ewan McGregor), an Aristocrat who loses everything amidst the upheaval including his family, friends and riches, bound to house arrest for life at an opulent hotel. It is here that he finds love and beauty in its staff, guests and secrets he never before knew.
In town for a special Advance Screening and press was MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD, who not only is McGregor‘s spouse in real life, but also does a superb job playing a commanding movie star named Anna. Winstead did two full days of press in support of the new Paramount+ series which already is drawing raves.
Winstead spoke post-screening with Johanna Schneller about getting into her character through the Series’ fantastic costumes and set, plus the fun of playing opposite McGregor, and also working for the first time with an intimacy coordinator.
More below, including the evening’s highlights:
Paramount Pictures Canada release A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW March 29, 2024.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Paramount+ Canada)
Paramount+ has released a brand new Trailer from its upcoming limited series A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW, and announced that the original series will premiere on March 29, 2024 exclusively on Paramount+ in Canada.
An adaptation of Amor Towles’ internationally best-selling novel, A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW follows Count Alexander Rostov, played by Emmy Award winning actor Ewan McGregor (Star Wars franchise, Halston, Trainspotting), who, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, finds that his gilded past places him on the wrong side of history. Spared immediate execution, he is banished by a Soviet tribunal to an attic room in the opulent Hotel Metropol, threatened with death if he ever sets foot outside again. As the years pass and some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history unfold outside the hotel’s doors, Rostov’s reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery. As he builds a new life within the walls of the hotel, he discovers the true value of friendship, family and love.
Alongside McGregor, the series stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ahsoka, Kate, Birds of Prey) as glamorous, self-made film actress Anna Urbanova; Alexa Goodall (The Devil’s Hour, Lockwood and Co) as the Count’s unlikely young friend Nina; Johnny Harris (Without Sin, This is England ’86) as conflicted secret police officer Osip; and Fehinti Balogun (Dune, I May Destroy You) as Mishka, the Count’s best friend from university. Additional cast includes Leah Harvey (Foundation), Paul Ready (Motherland, The Terror), John Heffernan (Becoming Elizabeth, The Pursuit of Love), Lyès Salem (Coupez, Abou Leila), Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (Lamb, The Witcher), Dee Ahluwalia (Consent, Sex Education) and Anastasia Hille (I Hate Suzie Too).
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Paramount. Ben Vanstone serves as Showrunner on the series, which is the first production to come through Lionsgate’s first look deal with Tom Harper’s company Popcorn Storm Pictures. Harper (War and Peace, Peaky Blinders) will also executive produce alongside Vanstone, McGregor, Sharon Hughff, (Three Pines), Pancho Mansfield (Queen of the South), Moonriver TV’s Xavier Marchand (Nautilus, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) and the novel’s writer, New York Times best-selling author Amor Towles. BAFTA® award winning director, and Emmy nominee Sam Miller (Surface, I May Destroy You, Luther) serves as director to select episodes and executive producer. Sarah O’Gorman (The Witcher, The Last Kingdom) also serves as director.
Paramount+ today announced that Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Ahsoka”, “Kate”, “Birds of Prey”) will join upcoming U.K original drama series A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW, starring alongside Ewan McGregor. An adaptation of Amor Towles’ internationally best-selling novel, A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW has commenced filming this week. The limited run series is produced by eOne in association with Paramount, and will debut exclusively in Paramount+ markets around the world, and on SHOWTIME® in the U.S.
Winstead will star as Anna Urbanova, a glamorous, independent, and self-made film actress, at the height of her fame. She uses her wit and beauty to dazzle Count Alexander Rostov, played by Emmy Award winning actor Ewan McGregor (“Star Wars” franchise, “Halston”, “Trainspotting”). She’s an enigmatic character, who keeps her cards very close to her chest. Reluctant to reveal her true self, Anna plays a role off-screen as well as on. The Count and Anna’s sizzling chemistry is clear from the moment they meet in the Metropol Hotel where he has been banished by a Soviet trial, but will this be true love, or just the latest in a long line of roles Anna is playing?
Winstead will next be seen in a starring role in “Ahsoka”, the next installment in the Star Wars/Disney+ universe. She recently wrapped filming on Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s independent feature “Rich Flu”, which was produced by Pablo Larraín’s Fabula. Winstead played the title character in Netflix’s No. 1 worldwide hit action-thriller “Kate” opposite Woody Harrelson, and starred alongside Margot Robbie in the Warner Bros/DC feature “Birds of Prey”, directed by Cathy Yan. Winstead earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead for James Ponsoldt’s critically acclaimed “Smashed”.
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW follows Count Alexander Rostov (McGregor) who, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, finds that his gilded past places him on the wrong side of history. Spared immediate execution, he is banished by a Soviet tribunal to an attic room in the opulent Hotel Metropol, threatened with death if he ever sets foot outside again. As the years pass and some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history unfold outside the hotel’s doors, Rostov’s reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery. As he builds a new life within the walls of the hotel, he discovers the true value of friendship, family and love.
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is produced by eOne in association with Paramount. The series is written by showrunner and executive producer Ben Vanstone (“All Creatures Great and Small”, “The Last Kingdom”). It is the first production to come through eOne’s first look deal with Tom Harper’s company Popcorn Storm Pictures. Harper (“War and Peace”, “Peaky Blinders”) will also executive produce alongside Ewan McGregor, Xavier Marchand (“Nautilus”, “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris”) and the novel’s writer, New York Times best-selling author Amor Towles. BAFTA® award winning director, and Emmy nominee Sam Miller (“Surface”, “I May Destroy You”, “Luther”) serves as director and executive producer.
Since its release, the novel has sold over 4 million copies worldwide, and counts Barack Obama, Tom Hanks and Ann Patchett among its high-profile fans.
The series, which is part of Paramount+’s strategy to commission 150 international originals by 2025, will debut in the UK and other international territories where the streaming service is available. A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW joins the expanding slate of UK originals for Paramount+, which includes THE KILLING KIND, THE EX-WIFE, THE FLATSHARE, SEXY BEAST, NO ESCAPE and THE BURNING GIRLS.
Winstead is represented by WME, Entertainment 360, and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com