Black Palace has released first-look images for its new psychological thriller, set within the walls of Buckingham Palace during the reign of Queen Victoria. Directed by BAFTA winner Nick Hamm, the film stars Freya Allan and Academy Award nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee and is now entering post-production.
New Regency is handling worldwide sales for the film and is set to begin discussions with international distributors as the autumn festival season gets underway.
What Is Black Palace About?
Set in London in the autumn of 1888, Black Palace unfolds against the backdrop of the Jack the Ripper murders, as sensationalist newspapers fuel fear across the city.
At the centre of the story is a young woman who is sent to work at Buckingham Palace with a secret mission: to spy on Queen Victoria’s grandson, a prince who has been mysteriously disappearing at night.
As she grows closer to the prince, she moves between the wealth and privilege of the royal court and the poverty surrounding it. Her investigation eventually exposes secrets that could put the monarchy—and her own life—in danger.
The film combines psychological thriller elements with romance and historical drama, using the contrasting worlds of Victorian London and Buckingham Palace as the setting for its story.
Who Stars in Black Palace?
Freya Allan, known for The Witcher and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, leads the cast alongside Kodi Smit-McPhee, who received an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog.
The cast also includes Joe Anders (Cape Fear), Raffey Cassidy (The Brutalist), Iain Glen (Game of Thrones), Martin Clunes (Wuthering Heights) and Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply).
The screenplay comes from Jon Croker, whose credits include No One Gets Out Alive and the Academy Award-winning short The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
Who Is Behind Black Palace?
Nick Hamm directs Black Palace, which is produced by Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich for SIMIA Productions, Piers Tempest for Tempo Productions, and Academy Award nominee Mark Huffam and Hamm through his newly established production company Hamm4.
Hannah Shipley and Will Matthews serve as co-producers, while Jeremy Bolt and Jon Croker are executive producers.
Hamm describes the film as a story that constantly moves between different tones and perspectives, combining suspense, romance and fear. He also compares its shifting nature to a “Jekyll & Hyde” experience, with the film moving between seductive and unsettling territory.
When Will Black Palace Be Released?
Black Palace is currently in post-production, with New Regency preparing to introduce the film to potential international distributors during the autumn festival season.
A release date and further details about its festival plans have yet to be announced.
