Despite a similar place within the visual medium, films about photography and photographers aren’t as numerous as one might think. (And honestly, how terrible would an Anne Geddes flick be?) But a biopic about famed Jewish-Hungarian war photographer Robert Capa has been in the works for years, and hasn’t always been limited to just one project. Close Enough looks to be close enough to production that we’ll assume this is the version we’ll see first.
If it gets its cast straight, however. It was only a couple of days ago that we found out Tom Hiddleston joined the cast, replacing the previously announced Andrew Garfield for the lead role. And now Screen Daily reports Hayley Atwell has signed on to play Hiddleston’s partner, replacing Gemma Arterton in the role. It is set to be directed by Paul Andrew Williams, whose career has taken him from indie horrors (The Cottage) to more wholesome fare, such as Unfinished Song and the upcoming Miss You Already.
Atwell has been pulling her dramatic weight in British productions for years, but really became familiar to American audiences for her role as Captain America’s love interest Peggy Carter. She’ll next be seen in Barnaby Southcombe’s femme noir I, Anna with Charlotte Rampling and Gabriel Byrne.
For Close Enough, Atwell will play Gerda Taro, Capa’s professional and personal companion, widely regarded as the first female war photographer. The film will focus on the couple’s years in Paris in the 1930s, culminating with the Spanish Civil War that vastly affected both of their lives.
“Hayley is someone I have wanted to work with for a long time,” Williams said, “and after a few near misses we have finally found, what I believe to be, the best project to collaborate on. The chemistry between Capa and Gerda was electric and I have confidence that Tom and Hayley will repeat that chemistry on film.”
Principal (non-war) photography is set to begin in June.
