Production is currently underway at Killruddery Estate and Gardens in Wicklow on Floria Sigismondi’s The Turning, which is being produced by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. The Herald is reporting that Spielberg is in Ireland working with the production.
The Turning is a modern take on Henry James’ novella The Turn of the Screw, and follows a young governess hired by a man who has become responsible for his young nephew and niece after the deaths of their parents.
Director Sigismondi previously gave us The Runaways in 2010, but is best known for her music videos with stars including David Bowie, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, The White Stripes, Katy Perry and Marilyn Manson. She recently directed two episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale as well as the season finale of American Gods.
Finn Wolfhard, best known for his star-making turn as Mike on Netflix series Stranger Things, plays the nephew, with Canadian star Mackenzie Davis playing the lead. Other actors include Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), Niall Greig Fulton (Cloud Atlas) and dancer Denna Thomsen. The original script comes from Chad and Carey Hayes, with revisions by Jade Bartlett. Irish talent involved includes production designer Paki Smith, casting director Louise Kiely, storyboard artist Jason Groarke, and production sound mixer Robert Flanagan (Black 47).
The film is being shot behind strict security at Killruddery Estate and Gardens in Bray, which has previously featured in My Left Foot, Angela’s Ashes, Far & Away, Becoming Jane, Ella Enchanted, and The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as multiple series of The Tudors and Camelot.
The Turning is being executively produced by Spielberg for Amblin Entertainment, with Scott Bernstein and Roy Lee as producers. Spielberg is no stranger to Ireland having shot the opening of Saving Private Ryan here in 1997.