Actors head off into Wide Blue Yonder

Filming on Norwegian/British co-production begins.

by Amber Wilkinson

British actors Brian Cox and James Fox headed off to Norway this week to begin filming on Wide Blue Yonder.

The black comedy, which co-stars Lauren Bacall, also features leading Norwegian actors Sverre Anker Ousdal (Insomnia), Hege Schoyen, Kaare Conradi and Ingrid Bolsoe Berdal.

The film is about an old rogue sailor named Wally (Cox), who breaks all the rules to fulfil an old friend's dying wish - to be buried at sea. Wally has only 48 hours to fulfil his promise: somehow to raise the cash, steal the body, find a boat and perform the burial. Wally needs a plan, but he’s not a planner. He turns for help to May (Lauren Bacall) and George (James Fox), fellow residents at the retirement home where they all live. However, Wally has a powerful adversary, Froken Reimark (Schøyen), the home’s administrator. She has other, darker plans for the likes of Wally…and for his deceased friend.

Splitting Heirs director Robert Young directs from a screenplay written by Hugh Janes, adapted from his successful stage play. Producers of this British Norwegian co-production are John Cairns for Parkland Films, Stephen Cranny at Collective Films and Terje Gaustad at Vanquish Alliance.

The film will continue shooting until mid August on location in Haugesund, Norway.

Share this with others on...

Movies out this week include:

Bridesmaids Enzo Savage House
News

Uncovering everyday moments Alvin Hall and Sam Pollard on uncovering the history of The Lorraine

Driven by love and capitalism Director Pierre Le Gall on the themes of Flesh and Fuel

The ultimate act of friendship Robin Campillo on picking up the threads from the late Laurent Cantet

Reaching for a better future Daniel E Catullo, Julie DeVercelly and Gary DeVercelly on hazing and 4000 Days

Escaping perfection Andrew Durham on adapting Alysia Abbott's memoir Fairyland

Playing it safe Will Bates on early musical influences and scoring Tuner

Farewell to Anthony Head Much-loved star dies at 72

More news and features

We're bringing you news, reviews and more from ImagineNative and Tribeca.



We're looking forward to Docs Ireland and the Fantasia International Film Festival.



We've recently brought you coverage of Cannes, Queer East, the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, Visions du Réel, Fantaspoa, Overlook, BFI Flare and SXSW, the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival and the NY Rendezvous with French Cinema.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Fantasia Second wave of titles announced


Tribeca Artistic director Frédéric Boyer discusses the highlights of this year's edition


Cannes The 2026 Palme d'Or has gone to Fjord


Cannes Everytime wins Un Certain Regard prize


Cannes Yuri wins Palm Dog for La Perra


Cannes La Gradiva tops Critics' Week awards