Slitherine

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August 14, 2001 - Renny Harlin: "Let Me Finnish!"

Director Driven back to homeland for new biopic that may star Jude Law.



According to Screendaily, Finnish-born director Renny Harlin (Driven, Die Hard 2) wants to return to his native country to make a biopic about World War II figure Carl Gustaf Mannerheim. Mannerheim is still revered in Finland "50 years after his death for resisting the invasion of Stalin's Red Army against overwhelming odds during World War II. Mannerheim is credited with having saved Finland from the fate of most east European countries, which succumbed to post-war Soviet Communist domination." Harlin advised Screendaily that he'd like Jude Law to play Mannerheim but if the Lawman passes then Harlin believes that many "young-generation actors would surely consider this the opportunity of a lifetime to play the role of a multi-faceted hero in a big epic movie".

The English-language version of Harlin's script should be ready by late August. The project is expected to cost roughly $30 million (U.S.) dollars; Finland-based cellular phone manufacturer Nokia is helping to raise funds for the picture. There may be one potential roadblock for Harlin's Mannerheim biopic. Finland fought alongside the Nazis after 1941; will American (and some European) audiences want to see a film that's about "the other side"? Time will tell.

Reuters did a fine job in summarizing Mannerheim's life. "Mannerheim, born in 1867, was schooled in the Czar's army when Finland was part of the Russian empire. When it declared independence after the Russian revolution of 1917, he defeated Communist rebels in the Finnish Civil War the following year. Broader fame came when he commanded Finland's greatly outnumbered troops in resisting a Soviet invasion in the Winter War of 1939-1940. Despite his suspicion of Hitler, Mannerheim later led Finnish forces in alliance with Germany against Moscow in 1941 and, (*)having become president in 1944, negotiated a peace with Stalin that helped ensure Helsinki's postwar independence."

Renny Harlin was attached to direct Pierce Brosnan in a big screen version of Ray Bradbury's time-travel tale A Sound of Thunder.

-- Stax

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