British star Ella Purnell, best known for starring in Fallout, Sweet Pea and Yellowjackets, will co-star with Nicholas Galitzine in the new film The Return of Stanley Atwell.
The film, described as a captivating thriller, is produced by Hella Pictures, the BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning production company that received an Oscar nomination for Hamnet, and is co-produced with John Gore Studios.
Written and directed by Brian Welsh (The Beats, Black Mirror), The Return of Stanley Atwell is based on an original story executive produced by Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh. The film marks the second collaboration between Welsh and Soderbergh, following their acclaimed debut film Beats, and their second collaboration with Liza Marshall and Hella Pictures, following the acclaimed BBC drama What It Feels Like for a Girl.
The story follows Stanley Atwell (Galitzine), the presumed dead son and heir to Lord Atwell’s title and fortune, who unexpectedly returns to the family estate after escaping a decade of mysterious captivity. Atwell’s shocking reappearance causes confusion. To gain control of Atwell’s fortune, his best friend Pamela (Purnell) manipulates Atwell’s mysterious return and dark family secrets, while his sister Beatrice finds herself fighting over her inheritance. According to the synopsis, “The lies and deceptions that have built the Atwell name begin to unravel, and sex, passion, betrayal, and betrayal wreak havoc throughout the mansion. How far will each family be willing to go to protect their wealth and status…and what’s really behind Stanley Atwell’s return?”
“Ella has an uncanny ability to move between vulnerability, humor and danger,” says Welsh. “She is a wonderfully versatile actor and I am thrilled to be working with Nicholas in The Return of Stanley Atwell. They are a great pair and I look forward to watching Ella make this role her own.”
Hera founder Marshall added: “Ella is an outstanding talent whose performances are consistently whimsical yet deeply moving. We are thrilled that she will be starring in the film alongside Nicholas and we can’t wait to see her bring Pamela to life.”
Filming on The Return of Stanley Atwell will soon begin in the UK and Malta.
John Gore, founder of John Gore Studios, said: “Ella Purnell brings a magnetic screen presence, amazing emotional nuance and an instinct that makes complex characters feel completely authentic.” “We are thrilled to have her on board and are delighted to be working with Hella Pictures and Brian Welsh on such a bold and provocative story.”
The film was produced by Marshall for Hella Pictures and Gore for John Gore Studios. Soderbergh will executive produce with Hilary Strong and Frances Hopkinson at John Gore Studios with Protagonist Pictures. The film is produced by Hella Pictures and co-produced and financed by John Gore Studios (The Duchess and I, Queen of Fashion).
Protagonist Pictures will handle international sales, with WME Independent jointly acquiring U.S. rights.
The Return of Stanley Atwell continues an unusually busy few years for Parnell, who is currently starring in Season 2 of the video game adaptation Fallout on Amazon Prime Video. Meanwhile, the first look of season 2 of Sky & Stars’ dark thriller series “Sweet Pea”, which she also serves as an executive producer and is scheduled to be released later this year, has been released. She is also set to star in the British comedy-horror film The Scully alongside Papa Essiedu, and was recently cast in the romantic comedy That Time We Met, directed by Theater Camp director Nick Lieberman.
Mr. Parnell is repped by WME, Range Media Partners and Curtis Brown Group. Shelter PR and Sloan, Offer, Weber & Dern.
