Agora Starts Shooting Stars

Principal photography will begin on 17 March, on Academy Award-winner Alejandro Amenábar’s high-budget historical epic, Agora set in Roman Egypt, 4th century AD.
Oscar-winning British actress Rachel Weisz takes the lead as the real-life figure, Hypatia of Alexandria, the Western world’s first female astronomer and philosopher.
Weisz will be joined by rising star Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Michael Lonsdale, Rupert Evans and Homayoun Ershadi.
The film will shoot on location in Malta for 15 weeks.
Amenábar commented: "Our entire team is devoted to bringing Ancient Alexandria back to life by using a hyper-realist approach. We want the audience to see, feel and smell a remote civilization as if it were as real as the present day."
Agora is director Amenábar’s second English-language feature after the global box office hit, The Others.
Amenábar co-wrote the screenplay with his frequent collaborator, Mateo Gil, and the film is produced by Amenábar’s longtime producer Fernando Bovaira.
Agora’s behind-the-scenes team includes Production Designer Guy Dyas, Director of Photography Xavi Gimenez, Academy Award-winning Costume Designer, Gabriella Pescucci and Line Producer, José Luis Escolar.
Leading Spanish production company, Telecinco Cinema, is the majority co-producer. Mod Producciones and Amenábar’s Himenoptero will produce with the participation of Sogecable.
(DS)