Production begins on The Man from U.N.C.L.

MANILA, Philippines - Principal photography began on Sept. 9 on Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The film is the first to be made under filmmaker Guy Ritchie and producer Lionel Wigram’s new production shingle, Ritchie/Wigram Productions, which has a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Having successfully re-imagined the classic detective Sherlock Holmes in two hit films, the pair now bring their fresh take on the hugely-popular ’60s television series by bringing super spies Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin to the big screen.

Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as Illya Kuryakin, alongside stars Alicia Vikander (Anna Karenina), Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby), Jared Harris (Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows) and Hugh Grant (Cloud Atlas) as Waverly.

“Guy and I have long loved these characters, and wanted to start from scratch with our own take and create a film steeped in the 1960s for today’s audiences,” said Wigram. “We are particularly happy about our cast, who all bring something special to the film. Henry, Armie, Alicia and Elizabeth are among the best and most exciting actors of the next generation. In addition, we are thrilled to be working with Hugh Grant, who we have known and been fans of for many years, and Jared Harris, who did such a great job for us as Moriarty.”

Set against the backdrop of the early ’60s at the height of the Cold War, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

The screenplay is written by Ritchie and Wigram, who also serve as producers. John Davis (Chronicle) and Steve Clark-Hall (RocknRolla, the Sherlock Holmes films) are also producing. David Dobkin is executive producer.

Ritchie’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes two-time Oscar-nominated director of photography John Mathieson (Gladiator), production designer Oliver Scholl (Jumper), editor James Herbert (the Sherlock Holmes films), Oscar-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston (Lincoln) and Oscar-winning key make-up and hair designer Sarah Monzani (Quest for Fire and the upcoming Edge of Tomorrow).

Filming will take place in England, with location filming also in Italy, particularly in Rome and Naples.

A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.