Screen Yorkshire invests in major international action film

SCREEN Yorkshire has invested in $25m action film Hunter’s Prayer.

Its latest investment, through the Yorkshire Content Fund, in the US/UK co-production Hunter’s Prayer, will see major Hollywood stars and film-making talent come to Yorkshire when it shoots this autumn. Filming will also take place in Hungary.

Cast confirmed to date includes Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans, The Debt) with additional high profile names to be announced imminently.

Screen Yorkshire is investing in Hunter’s Prayer through its Yorkshire Content Fund alongside the Ingenious Senior Film Fund and LipSync Productions. Sierra/Affinity is handling international sales.

Screen Yorkshire said it can’t disclose its exact investment but said it is its largest to date. The new programme of funding (which started in January) means that we the organisation can invest upwards of £1m per project. 

Executive producer, Hugo Heppell, head of investments at Screen Yorkshire said:  ‘’The Yorkshire Content Fund continues to have a dramatic impact on production levels in the region. This latest investment is highly significant as it demonstrates that Yorkshire is now able to attract  – and host  – big budget international feature films, as well as major sporting events like the Tour de France.’’

The Yorkshire Content Fund, the biggest regional investment fund for production in the UK, is backed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The £15m fund is open to content producers working in film, TV, games and digital based in Yorkshire or from outside but looking to establish a base in the region thus stimulating local production levels.

Hunter’s Prayer will be directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3, Surrogates, U-571) and produced by Navid McIlhargey (Rock’n’Rolla)/Anthony Rhulen (Rum Diary) for Film Engine (US), Chris Milburn (Getaway, An American Haunting) for Midsummer Films (UK), John and Michael Schwarz, Sam Worthington for Full Clip (US) and Paul Leyden. Based on the critically acclaimed novel For The Dogs by Kevin Wignall, it is adapted for the screen by writers Paul Leyden, Oren Moverman, and John Brancato and Michael Ferris.

Recent investments by Screen Yorkshire include Peaky Blinders, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Testament Of Youth, Get Santa, X + Y, Death Comes to Pemberley, Catch me Daddy, and ’71.