Senna Director’s new film explores Rolls-Royce early years
Asif Kapadia director of Senna to direct a feature film exploring the Rolls-Royce early years
SILVER GHOST tells the epic story of the birth of the iconic British luxury car brand, born out of an extraordinary odd-couple relationship between the maverick genius of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce.
Set at the turn of the last century, it portrays the fascinating story of Rolls and Royce and their friendship with motoring pioneer Lord John Douglas-Scott Montagu. His secret affair with his secretary and mistress, Eleanor Thornton was famously the inspiration for the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy mascot.
Eleanor Thornton – inspiration for the famous Spirit of Ecstasy mascot
The mascot designed by British artist and sculptor, Charles Sykes, has changed little over the years and still adorns Rolls-Royce cars to this day.
BAFTA Award winning Asif Kapadia, director of box office breaking films SENNA and the Oscar nominated AMY, said: “What struck me when I read SILVER GHOST was how this true story weaves together the lives of five remarkable people that changed the destiny of the Western world”.
The film was originally developed by the late Academy Award winning director Richard Attenborough and producer Anthony Haas, who will work with Martin Scorsese to produce the feature film. The project will be a co-production between Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and Zuma Productions.
Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese remarks, “I’ve been captivated by the story of SILVER GHOST ever since Lord Richard Attenborough came to me with the project, and I’m thrilled that we’re going to be seeing it through. It’s a project that requires a great and innovative storyteller, and that’s exactly what we have with Asif Kapadia.”
SILVER GHOST the film is due to be released in 2017.
