The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch
Short description
Based on the Belgian comic by Jean Van Hamme, this 2008 action thriller follows Largo Winch, a young man raised in secret as the adopted son of Nerio Winch, the head of a vast financial empire. When Nerio dies under suspicious circumstances, Largo is drawn out of a prison in the Amazon, where he had been held on drug charges, and into the struggle over the inheritance. With no officially acknowledged family, the corporation's leadership is unprepared for him, and he must establish his claim while pursuing those responsible for his father's death.
Jérôme Salle directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Julien Rappeneau, following his 2005 debut Anthony Zimmer. Tomer Sisley plays Largo, with Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélanie Thierry, Miki Manojlović, Karel Roden, Gilbert Melki and a cast of roughly two dozen credited performers. The production involved Belgian, French and Hong Kong companies, and its reported budget was about 24 million dollars.
Released in December 2008, the film earned around 17 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.4 out of 10 from roughly 16,000 votes, and on TMDB 6 out of 10 from just over 600 votes. A critics' rating of 5 out of 10 from 17 reviews places it below the audience scores, which are moderate. Salle returned to the character with Largo Winch II in 2011.
What's left behind the scenes
- For filming, Tomer Sisley learned to speak Serbian, and during filming, he performed many stunts himself.
- When Largo and Goran exit the police station in Croatia, the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina is hanging there.
- Scenes in Hong Kong were filmed without permission, so some members of the film crew constantly had to, as they say, 'keep a lookout'.
- The rights to the adaptation were sold twenty years prior to producer Serge Zilberman, who planned to start a franchise on the level of the 'James Bond' series. Unfortunately, he passed away even before work began on this film.
- Two Brazilian twin brothers, who played minor roles in the film, had to sell their car to buy plane tickets to Hong Kong, where filming was to continue.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
