DB7

'Churchill' to be continued at HBO, BBC
By Nellie Andreeva

March 23, 2007
HBO and the BBC have reteamed with producers Ridley and Tony Scott for "Churchill at War," a follow-up to "The Gathering Storm," their much heralded biopic of Winston Churchill.

Brendan Gleeson is set to portray the former British prime minister in "Churchill," which picks up where "Storm" left off and explores how the traits that made Churchill a great wartime leader during World War II were the same ones that resulted in him being voted out of power within weeks of the war's end.

Hugh Whitemore, who won an Emmy for writing "Storm," penned "Churchill," an HBO Films/BBC Films presentation from Scott Free Prods. and Rainmark Films.

Thaddeus O'Sullivan ("Witness to the Mob") is on board to direct the film, which is being executive produced by "Storm" executive producers Ridley Scott, Tony Scott and Julie Payne. "Storm's" Frank Doelger and Tracey Scoffield as well as Ann Wingate (HBO's "My House in Umbria") will serve as producers.

The 2002 "Storm," which starred Albert Finney as Churchill, garnered three Emmys, including best TV movie, best writing for a TV movie or miniseries -- which Whitemore shared with Larry Ramin -- and best lead actor in a movie or movie series (Finney). The biopic also won two Golden Globes, one for best TV movie or miniseries and one for Finney's performance.

Gleeson next will appear in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," reprising his role as Professor Alastor "MadEye" Moody.