Peter Chelsom, director of such films as Hannah Montana, Shall We Dance? and Hector and the Search for Happiness, is going for a chance of scene with his next film. According to the latest news, Chelsom is trading in his Simon Pegg comedies for a riveting World War II thriller named The Paladin.
Picture Alex Rider from Stormbreaker but only in World War II and you get the basic picture of The Paladin. Adapted from a 1979 novel of the same name by Brian Garfield, The Paladin tells the supposedly true tale of a 15 year-old Christopher Creighton: a boy who becomes the personal spy and assassin of Winston Churchill. After accidentally meeting the legendary war leader, it is not long before Creighton delves deep into the black heart of the most destructive war in history; blowing up submarines, leading a double-life in Nazi Germany and supplying information that leads to the Dunkirk evacuation becomes his every day existence.
This is not the first time that Garfield’s work has been adapted for the screen; a film adaption of his novel Death Wish, starring Charles Bronson was released in 1974 to a mixed reception. However, we remain optimistic for The Paladin as it has a sure pair of hands penning the screenplay in Eric Pfeffinger (of Machine Gun Preacher fame). The film is also being produced by David Dobkin and Jeff Kleeman, who just so happen to have produced recent spy-flick The Man From U.N.C.L.E..
A huge challenge lies in front of Chelsom, but seeing the company he will be keeping for his next project, I think he’ll be fine. Chelsom is currently finishing up on his latest production The Space Between Us, a Sci-Fi drama starring Gary Oldman and Asa Butterfield, that is due for to be released on July 29.
#Peace.love.PeterChelsom
