The first "The Ottoman Lieutenant" movie trailer was recently released, and it lets viewers have glimpse into the other side of World War I. The upcoming movie stars Hera Hillmar ("Da Vinci's Demons"), Michiel Huisman ("Game of Thrones"), Josh Hartnett ("Penny Dreadful"), and Ben Kingsley ("Gandhi").
The new romantic war drama is set during the battle between the Russian Empire against the Ottoman and German Empires as seen through the eyes of Lillie (Hilmar). She is an American woman who, aside from being beautiful, is strong-willed. She travels overseas to run away from the injustices happening in America and then joins a remote medical mission in the Ottoman Empire, now known as Turkey. According to Yahoo Movies, the mission is founded by Woodman (Kingsley) and run by an American doctor, Dr. Jude (Hartnett).
"The Ottoman Lieutenant" is a dangerous love story. Lillie is loyal to Jude and Woodman, but she falls in love with the titular military character, Ismail (Huisman). Just as the occupying forces right at their doorstep and mankind is about to experience its first world war, Lillie has to decide if she will remain loyal to her mission or loyal to her heart.
Joseph Ruben ("Sleeping with the Enemy," "Return to Paradise" and "Money Train") took the helm for this movie. With him is Jeff Stockwell ("The Dangerous Lives of Alta Boys" and "Bridge to Terabithia"), who wrote the screenplay, with rewrites done by David Loughery ("Lakeview Terrace," "The Three Musketeers" and "Passenger 57"), according to Deadline.
Other cast members include Haluk Bilginer ("Winter Sleep"), Affif Ben Badra ("Taken"), Paul Barrett ("Transporter 3"), Jessica Turner ("Law & Order: UK"), and Peter Hosking ("Last Knights").
The film's executive producers include Ron Bareham, Tony Lynn, and William Stuart. Music is by Geoff Zanelli and cinematography by Daniel Aranyo. The principal photography took place in Cappadocia and Istanbul in Turkey, as well in Prague in the Czech Republic.
"The Ottoman Lieutenant" will have an Oscar-qualifying run this month and will be widely released in February 2017. Paladin will distribute the film.