“Paddington” producer-distributor Studiocanal is gearing up to shoot “How To Stop Time,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch and with D.C. Moore (
“Paddington” producer-distributor Studiocanal is gearing up to shoot “How To Stop Time,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch and with D.C. Moore (“Mary & George”) and Tomas Alfredson (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) on board as key creative talent.
Production on the title by Studiocanal and SunnyMarch will be announced by CEO Anna Marsh on Monday at her keynote at Cannes’ MipTV trade fair.
Based on Matt Haig’s bestselling novel, “How To Stop Time” is written by Moore with Alfredson set to direct. Filming will take place in London and other parts of Europe in 2024, said Marsh.
Published in 2017, “How To Stop Time” turns on Tom Hazard, a London high-school history teacher, apparently 41, but suffering from anageria, or a very slow ageing process, which means he has lived since the 1500s. Affected by a life of perpetual loss, Tom is part of a like-conditioned secret power elite whose only rule is: Never fall in love.Then he meets a captivating French teacher at his school who seems equally fascinated by him.
Robyn Slovo (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) is series producer alongside Cumberbatch, Adam Ackland, Claire Marshall and Leah Clarke for SunnyMarch (“Patrick Melrose,” “The Child in Time”). Moore, Alfredson, Haig and Jamie Byng executive produce. Ron Halpern, Studiocanal EVP global production and SVP global production Joe Naftalin executive produce and are overseeing for Studiocanal.
“Losing his loved ones, his existence is in many senses one of perpetual loss. So you can imagine Benedict being absolutely perfect for the role,” Marsh told Variety in the run-up to her keynote.
“How to Stop Time” will also key in on a love story that, for reasons beyond its lovers’ control, seemingly cannot last. “There are many themes that hit home,” she added.
Cumberbatch said that when he first read “How to Stop Time,” “the potential of this story was immediately obvious.” “In his inimitable style, Matt once again explores what it is to be human and what it is to live a life – a very long one in this case – with pathos, insight, humor, drama and inspiration,” the actor-producer continued.
He also praised Alfredson for being “the perfect person to capture the scale, tension, and sense of humour alive in DC Moore’s adaptation.”
Canal+ will air “How to Stop Time” in France, throughout Africa and in its six territories in Eastern Europe. Beyond the Canal+ footprint, Studiocanal will look to take the series onto the open market.
As it looks to build an even larger presence in the English-language scripted space and address international audiences, Marsh confirmed to Variety that Studiocanal has acquired an equity stake in London-based Strong Film & Television, co-founded in late 2020 by “Broadchurch” director James Strong and Matt Tombs, a former executive at the BBC and Paramount.
“We have the appetite to make more globally-reaching shows, and a lot of the talent for those kinds of international shows is definitely in London. There’s a lot of great talent there,” March said.
