Ralph Fiennes is reuniting with Conclave producer Tessa Ross and Canal+ Studios for a biopic about legendary British horse trainer Henry Cecil and his famous accused, the champion Frankel.

EXCLUSIVE: Three-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes is reuniting with Conclave producer Tessa Ross and Canal+ Studios, which backed A Bigger Splash, on Unbeaten, a biopic of legendary British horse trainer Henry Cecil and his most famous accused, Frankel. Fiennes will play Cecil and will also serve as executive producer on the film, which is currently in […]

EXCLUSIVE: Three-time Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes reunites with Conclave producer Tessa Ross and Studiocanal's A Bigger Splash sponsor on Unbeaten, a biopic of legendary British horse trainer Henry Cecil and his most famous accuser, Frankel.

Fiennes will star as Cecil and serve as an executive producer on the film, which is set to shoot next year.

The script from Boardwalk Empire WGA nominee Bash Doran, consulting producer for Beef, will be directed by BAFTA winner Nora Fingscheid (System Crash) with Tessa Ross producing for House Productions and Rory Aitken producing for Escapade Pictures. 42 will also produce. Pic has been developed with support from BBC Film and Conclave and Access Entertainment sponsors The Zone Of Interest. Related News News Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell and Wagner Moira for the comedy "Art" from director Fernando Meirelles and screenwriter Christopher Hampton. 193 Launches for Cannes Market News Ralph Fiennes, Viggo Mortensen, Charlotte Rampling, Kathryn Langford and more for Istvan Szabo's 'Embers'. Filming is underway and the first looks were revealed with Khakreez at Cannes

The film is fully financed by Studiochannel and will be screened in its territories of UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand. Executive producers include Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin for Studiocanal, as well as Fiennes and Doran. Studiocanal handles global sales. Watch on Deadline

Cecil, who was knighted by the Queen in 2011, was one of the most recognizable figures in the world of horse racing. Invincible Frankel, a ten-time champion trainer in Britain, was his most famous horse, winning ten Group 1 races. Many consider this horse to be the greatest European Thoroughbred and a rival to the US Secretariat of Champions.

The film follows the bittersweet final years of the late Cecil as he triumphantly rebuilds his life and career after personal suffering, newspaper scandals, health crises and a clash with the industry's most powerful owner. The relationship with Frankel and the rekindling with his third wife Jane McKeon were the keys to his return to the top of his sport.

Tony Rushmer, author of Henry Cecil's Triumph: The Authorized Biography, is a consultant on the film.

Ralph Fiennes commented: "Until I read the script for Bash Duran, I knew nothing about the legendary Henry Cecil. I had to, and I was moved by it and the story of Henry with Frankel's great horse. Henry was a unique, complex and competitive character in the very special world of horse racing. Aitken (producer) and Studiocanal. I am especially excited to be working with Nora Fingscheid.

The project is the second collaboration between Berlin Silver Bear winner Fingscheidt and Euro studio Studiocanal after the UK BAFTA nominated The Outrun starring Saoirse Ronan.

Fiennes is repped by 42 Management and Production, CAA and SOWDLLP. Fingscheidt is with Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Ilene Feldman Management and Homebase. Duran is distributed by UTA, Untitled and Schreck Rose.

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