EXCLUSIVE: John Malkovich will be at the Berlin Film Festival this year in the titular lead role of Robert Schwentke’s tale Seneca – On The Creation Of Earthquakes.
The drama follows influential Roman philosopher Seneca and his deadly fall from grace with mentee and benefactor Emperor Nero, who falsely accuses him of being involved in an assassination plot.
It is the latest in a long line of roles for Malkovich interpreting real-life, controversial historic figures, from Casanova to the Duke of Wellington and Gustav Klimt.
Further lead cast includes newcomer Tom Xander as Nero, Geraldine Chaplin as well as Mary-Louise Parker, Julian Sands and Andrew Koji in supporting roles.
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Picture Tree International, which handles world sales, has been teasing clips for the film since the fall and has now revealed the full-length international trailer ahead of the film’s premiere in Berlin.
The clip shows Malkovich in full dramatic swing as his character takes stock of his life, contemplates Nero’s ascent under his guidance, and stares his impending death in the face, surrounded by family, friends and enemies at his country villa on his last night.
There is also a brief shot of Malkovich’s long-time friend and collaborator Sands, who went missing while hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles on January 13. Seneca is among half a dozen films featuring Sands in the cast that have yet to be released.
Seneca was shot on location in Morocco in 2021.
The production marks versatile German director Schwentke’s 12th feature and follows recent credits The Captain and Snake Eyes.
Seneca – On The Creation Of Earthquakes world premieres on February 20 as a Berlinale Special Gala and Weltkino Film distribution is due to release the film in Germany on March 23.
The feature is produced by Filmgalerie 451 in co-production with Gretchenfilm, Kasbah Films and ZDF/ARTE.
