The Danish Girl (film)
Encyclopedia
The Danish Girl is an upcoming film adaptation of the novel of the same name
by David Ebershoff
. The film stars Nicole Kidman
as Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe
. Kidman is producing the project via her production company, Blossom Films. Tomas Alfredson
was set to direct the film, but left the project for undisclosed reasons. He was subsequently replaced by another Swedish
director, Lasse Hallström
who has since left the project.
, the illustrator and artist Gerda Wegener
asks her husband, Einar Wegener, also known as Lili Elbe
(Kidman) to stand in for a female model. The popularity of the portraits leads to Gerda painting her husband in further pictures as a woman. Einar develops an attraction for a female physical appearance and begins to relinquish his life as a male. Ultimately Elbe becomes the first ever recipient of male to female sex reassignment surgery
, and Gerda supports the decision, although their marriage becomes strained when Gerda comes to the realization that Einar, now Lili, is no longer the man she married.
that the production on the project would precede that of his upcoming Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
adaptation. He added "We have been in talks for close to a year, and we are soon going into production".
In December 2009, Swedish newspapers reported that Alfredson was no longer attached to direct The Danish Girl and would begin work on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy next. Alfredson said he regretted that reports of him working on The Danish Girl spread before the deal was finalized. He also said that he still wanted to make the movie and might return to the project.
On 12 January 2010, Swedish director Lasse Hallström
told Swedish media that he had been assigned to replace Alfredson as director.
Charlize Theron
was originally slated to play the role of Gerda Wegener
but was replaced by Gwyneth Paltrow
after leaving the project. Paltrow left the project due to location changes. Uma Thurman
was also a rumoured replacement. In September 2010, Marion Cotillard
was rumored to be the lead candidate for the role of Gerda Wegener.
Filming was projected to commence in Spring 2010 in Berlin
. However the release date was recently pushed back to 2012.
On 11 June 2010, the Hollywood Reporter revealed that the film had received €1.2 million ($1.5 million) in subsidy financing from Germany's NRW Film Board. The conditions of the deal include the planned 19-day shoot in Germany. In February 2011, Screen Daily reported that the film will begin shooting in July of the same year and that Rachel Weisz
will play Wegener. In May it was revealed that both Weisz and Hallstrom had left the project.
The Danish Girl
The Danish Girl is a novel by American writer David Ebershoff.-Summary:The novel is a fictionalized account of the life of Lili Elbe, the first person to undergo sex reassignment surgery.-Awards:...
by David Ebershoff
David Ebershoff
David Ebershoff is an American-born writer, editor, and teacher.-Biography:Born in Pasadena, California, he is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Chicago, and studied at Keio University in Tokyo....
. The film stars Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
as Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe
Lili Elbe
Lili Elbe was an Intersex person and one of the first identifiable recipients of male to female sex reassignment surgery. Elbe was born as a male in Denmark. Born as Einar Mogens Wegener, she identified as male for most of her life and was a successful artist with that name...
. Kidman is producing the project via her production company, Blossom Films. Tomas Alfredson
Tomas Alfredson
Tomas Alfredson is a Swedish film director, best known internationally for directing the 2008 vampire film Let the Right One In...
was set to direct the film, but left the project for undisclosed reasons. He was subsequently replaced by another Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
director, Lasse Hallström
Lasse Hallström
Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström is a Swedish film director. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for My Life as a Dog and later for The Cider House Rules .-Life and career:...
who has since left the project.
Plot
In 1920s CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, the illustrator and artist Gerda Wegener
Gerda Wegener
Gerda Gottlieb Wegener Porta was a Danish illustrator and painter best known for her erotica.-Biography:She grew up originally from the provinces as the daughter of a clergyman. She moved to Copenhagen to pursue her education at the Royal Art Academy, and married fellow artist Einar Wegener in...
asks her husband, Einar Wegener, also known as Lili Elbe
Lili Elbe
Lili Elbe was an Intersex person and one of the first identifiable recipients of male to female sex reassignment surgery. Elbe was born as a male in Denmark. Born as Einar Mogens Wegener, she identified as male for most of her life and was a successful artist with that name...
(Kidman) to stand in for a female model. The popularity of the portraits leads to Gerda painting her husband in further pictures as a woman. Einar develops an attraction for a female physical appearance and begins to relinquish his life as a male. Ultimately Elbe becomes the first ever recipient of male to female sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
, and Gerda supports the decision, although their marriage becomes strained when Gerda comes to the realization that Einar, now Lili, is no longer the man she married.
Production
In September 2009, Alfredson revealed to VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
that the production on the project would precede that of his upcoming Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a 1974 British spy novel by John le Carré, featuring George Smiley. Smiley is a middle-aged, taciturn, perspicacious intelligence expert in forced retirement. He is recalled to hunt down a Soviet mole in the "Circus", the highest echelon of the Secret Intelligence...
adaptation. He added "We have been in talks for close to a year, and we are soon going into production".
In December 2009, Swedish newspapers reported that Alfredson was no longer attached to direct The Danish Girl and would begin work on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy next. Alfredson said he regretted that reports of him working on The Danish Girl spread before the deal was finalized. He also said that he still wanted to make the movie and might return to the project.
On 12 January 2010, Swedish director Lasse Hallström
Lasse Hallström
Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström is a Swedish film director. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for My Life as a Dog and later for The Cider House Rules .-Life and career:...
told Swedish media that he had been assigned to replace Alfredson as director.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
was originally slated to play the role of Gerda Wegener
Gerda Wegener
Gerda Gottlieb Wegener Porta was a Danish illustrator and painter best known for her erotica.-Biography:She grew up originally from the provinces as the daughter of a clergyman. She moved to Copenhagen to pursue her education at the Royal Art Academy, and married fellow artist Einar Wegener in...
but was replaced by Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Kate Paltrow is an American actress and singer. She made her acting debut on stage in 1990 and started appearing in films in 1991. After appearing in several films throughout the decade, Paltrow gained early notice for her work in films such as Se7en and Emma...
after leaving the project. Paltrow left the project due to location changes. Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
was also a rumoured replacement. In September 2010, Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard is a French actress and singer. She garnered critical acclaim for her roles in films such as La Vie en Rose, My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument, Taxi, Furia and Jeux d'enfants...
was rumored to be the lead candidate for the role of Gerda Wegener.
Filming was projected to commence in Spring 2010 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. However the release date was recently pushed back to 2012.
On 11 June 2010, the Hollywood Reporter revealed that the film had received €1.2 million ($1.5 million) in subsidy financing from Germany's NRW Film Board. The conditions of the deal include the planned 19-day shoot in Germany. In February 2011, Screen Daily reported that the film will begin shooting in July of the same year and that Rachel Weisz
Rachel Weisz
Rachel Hannah Weisz born 7 March 1970)is an English-American film and theatre actress and former fashion model. She started her acting career at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she co-founded the theatrical group Cambridge Talking Tongues...
will play Wegener. In May it was revealed that both Weisz and Hallstrom had left the project.