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Peter Weir's The Way Back Gets a Strong Cast - Farrell, Harris, Sturgess, and Ronan

by Alex Billington
January 9, 2009

Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan

Director Peter Weir has figured out his cast for The Way Back, an upcoming WWII set project he is developing. Leading the way will be Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess and Saoirse Ronan. Based on a true story, The Way Back is about a group of soldiers who engineered a grueling escape from a Siberian labor camp in 1942. Farrell plays a tough, tattooed Russian; Harris an American; and Sturgess portrays a young Polish inmate. Ronan will play a Russian on the run who meets up with the fugitives. Weir himself wrote the script based on the memoir by Slavomir Rawicz. Shooting will start in March in Bulgaria.

This is Weir's first return to directing since he made Master and Commander back in 2003. Weir's previous films also include Gallipoli, Dead Poets Society, and The Truman Show. Although this sounds a little too similar to Edward Zwick's Defiance (guys escape from Germans, run through forest for months), I've got a feeling Weir is going to do a lot better than Zwick. That cast is pretty diverse too, and it's even more interesting to see what Weir is planning to turn them into - for example, Farrell, an Irishman, is going to play a Russian; and Sturgess, an Englishman, will play a Pole. We'll keep our eye on this project.

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Scott McHenry

This is going to be a good movie. You cant go wrong with this storyline, cast and director. I'll definately be seeing this.
Cody

Yea sounds like it has potential and master and commander just felt sooooo...real that weir will make ww2 feel the same.
janet

I didn't know anything about this project but the cast is really interesting. I hope you follow it.
Angelo

Great cast. Sturgess I've never seen act, but Farell has proven a couple of times that he is indeed a great actor, his latest In Bruges is maybe the best example of this fact. Ed Harris is no-brainer. The guy can't act bad even if he tried. And Saoirse Ronan is one of the best young American actresses around. She was really good in Atonement.
BahHumbug

Thank god! I love Weir's work and this is a great cast. I disagree with this sounding like Defiance, this film seems to have the whole prison aspect and as opposed to hiding they are more on the run.
Hassan

#4 - Saoirse Ronan is not american, she's irish! AND DAMN PROUD OF IT!
Angelo

@Hassan. I was in doubt if she really was American actually, but her Imdb profile showed she was born there, so I just assumed it as fact. Should've known that she could've also "just" been born there.
Keith

Great cast, very good director. looking forward to it
Jimbo Slims

I am and have always been a huge fan of Weir's work. After seeing Fearless I was hooked, then came Truman Show, and a retroactive realization that he directed Mosquito Coast, Witness, AND Dead Poet's Society. Dude's brilliant. Haven't seen Master & Commander yet, but this looks like another fine cast for him to work with. I'd venture to say we may have Colin Farrell delivering another fine performance, under Weir's tutelage. I also heard In Bruges was fantastic - will have to check that out.
Keith

You heard correct, In Bruges is very good.
Cody

Sturgess was in 21 he did freaking sweet if ya ask me
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Good cast.
http://www.metricktraining.com Mr. Web Based Training

I think we know how much you be rooting for this movie not to suck Alex. You have already stated in one of your Defiance posts that you have a soft spot for WWII movies. =)
http://lesterhhunt.blogspot.com/ Lester Hunt

I'm so glad this inspiring book is going to be a film at last -- and with plenty of talent on both sides of the camera!
moravia

They are going to kill a Deer fir one of the scenes. Real animai, not a prop or FX. Not so good.
elessar

Variety hasn't confirmed it yet, but Mark Strong (Hani from Body of Lies and Mussawi from Syriana) has been cast as well. He mentions it in a podcast, but I alas do not have the link. All in all, this sounds really good. It'll be nice having Peter Weir return to the silver screen.
b

i can't wait to see it farrell is a great actor and he was brilliant in In Bruges.
paul

first read the book "The long walk"
adam

How come they turned this into a Russian guy escaping, instead of the obvious Polish guy escaping?
Corran Horn

Adam: They didn't. The main character--Janusz, played by Sturgess--is still a Pole. He just happens to have some Russian companions. Aside from Inception and Shutter Island, this is my most anticipated 2010 release. Hopefully, they'll screen it at the Berlin Film Festival and pick up a distributor as I'm getting quite anxious.
miki_miki

Yeah finnaly some movie about strong and power of Poland. Because a saw only dead, Judes, destroy, crying, dead in every movies about IIWW in Poland
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111769649363&ref=ts Leon

Hi All, This is based upon my late grandfathers book. Please try to read the book first. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111769649363&ref=ts Enjoy Leon
tiger tim

In 2010 -on this the staggeringly important, urgently relevant, again overlooked 60th Anniversary of the KOREAN WAR ----WHY is the talented LONG rich Weir bothering us with yet more seen-to-death, done-to-death WWII retreading? WHY? WHY? WHY?
Steven Brando

Just found out Weir had this film coming. Holy Moley! What a cast... Im there with lil pink bells on. I may even buy the whole theater a round of popcorn just to show my enthusiasm. Whatever Weir puts in his koolaid I don't care, I'm drinkin it! Gallipoli, The year of Living Dangerously, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Dead Poets Society, Mosquito Coast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously???? When does this new Weir flick start?