Shooting starts on 'King's Speech' with Firth, Rush, Pearce (HWT)

By Nancy Tartaglione

See-Saw Films and Bedlam Productions have begun principal photography on "The King's Speech" starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon.

Tom Hooper is directing from a screenplay by David Seidler. Hooper directed the HBO mini "John Adams" and the recent feature, "The Damned United."

The film is based on the true story of King George VI and his friendship with maverick speech therapist Lionel Logue. As the second son of George V, Prince Albert was not expected to ascend to the throne, but when his brother Edward chose to abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson, Albert was his successor and in 1936 was crowned King George VI. The reluctant king, who was plagued with a nervous stammer, engaged Logue, an irreverent Australian, who helped him find a voice with which to lead the nation.

See-Saw's Iain Canning and Emile Sherman and Bedlam's Gareth Unwin are producing. The film is shooting for seven weeks in various locations around England.

The Weinstein Company and the UK Film Council present the film in association with Momentum Pictures, Aegis Film Fund and Molinare London. TWC and Film Nation have international sales.