Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ammonite: Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan to play lovers in historical drama

The film will be written and directed by Francis Lee, who made a splash last year with his debut 'God's Own Country'

Clarisse Loughrey
Saturday 15 December 2018 10:22 GMT
Comments
Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet to star in romantic drama Ammonite
Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet to star in romantic drama Ammonite (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan are set to star in romance Ammonite.

The film is set to be written and directed by Francis Lee, who made a splash last year with his debut God's Own Country, another romance which follows a young sheep farmer in Yorkshire (Josh O'Connor) whose life is transformed by a Romanian migrant worker (Alec Secăreanu).

The film was nominated for Outstanding British Film at this year's BAFTAs, with O'Connor also being nominated for the Rising Star Award.

According to Deadline, Ammonite will be set in a UK coastal town in the 1840s, following the unlikely romance between palaeontologist Mary Anning and a wealthy London woman to whom she must unexpectedly play nursemaid.

The project already has some prestigious backing, as it was developed by See-Saw, the BFI and BBC Films. Widows and Lion producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, alongside Lady Macbeth producer Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly, will serve as producers on the project.

Production is set to start in March. Winslet recently completed work on James Cameron's Avatar sequel, which is set for release in 2020.

Ronan stars alongside Margot Robbie in Mary Queen of Scots, which traces the conflict between two of the 16th century's most formidable queens, as Mary developed an uneasy alliance with her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. The film is set for release in UK cinemas on 18 January 2019.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in