Tom Blyth Cast as Lead in Michael Winterbottom's Adaptation of 'A Farewell to Arms'

2023-12-10 15:10:55

Tom Blyth Joins Michael Winterbottom's Adaptation of 'A Farewell to Arms'

Actor Tom Blyth is confirmed to lead a new film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's renowned novel A Farewell to Arms, joining the ranks of Gary Cooper, Rock Hudson, and George Hamilton who have previously brought the story to life.

The joint venture includes Fremantle, led by director Michael Winterbottom’s Revolution Films, and the notable team behind Passenger, which has credits such as True Detective and Catch-22.

Casting Tom Blyth as Frederic Henry

Known for his roles in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and TV's Billy the Kid, Tom Blyth is set to portray Frederic Henry, a volunteer ambulance driver who finds love in war-torn Italy.

Since its first publication in 1929, A Farewell To Arms has been acclaimed as one of the greatest war novels. It draws from Hemingway's personal experiences during the First World War.

A Farewell to Arms has seen several adaptations, including a 1932 film directed by Frank Borzage and a 1966 UK mini-series featuring Vanessa Redgrave. The upcoming project has yet to announce who will star alongside Blyth.

Production and Support

Melissa Parmenter will produce the adaptation for Revolution Films, with Winterbottom and Richard Brown from Passenger serving as Executive Producers. The film will also come with backing from the Hemingway Estate.

Director Winterbottom intends for the movie to mirror Hemingway's iceberg theory: revealing just enough on the surface while implying the deeper undertones.

Tom Blyth's Perspective

Blyth expresses excitement about exploring the narrative's themes of war's human toll and love's resilience. He looks forward to bringing Frederic Henry to contemporary audiences.

The Hemingway Estate, led by his descendants, supports the new iteration "with passion and understanding," finding it timely to reintroduce Hemingway's story in today's turbulent world.

About Michael Winterbottom

Michael Winterbottom's repertoire includes award-nominated films such as Welcome to Sarajevo and 24 Hour Party People. His latest film, Shoshana, received recognition at international festivals.

Tom Blyth's Current Projects

As of now, Tom Blyth stars in the prequel to The Hunger Games, which enjoys global success, and reprises his role in the second season of Billy the Kid for MGM+.

Melissa Parmenter has collaborated with Winterbottom for over a decade, producing films such as Greed and the critically celebrated This England in partnership with Passenger and Fremantle.

In a recent development, Fremantle expanded its creative horizons by fully integrating Passenger into its Global Drama division, guided by CEO Christian Vesper.

Tom Blyth's agents include Gersh, United Agents in the UK, and MJ Management. Similarly, the rights for A Farewell to Arms are managed by Gersh.