White Bird (film)

White Bird (also marketed with the subtitle A Wonder Story) is a 2023 American coming-of-age period drama film directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by Mark Bomback, based on the 2019 graphic novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio. A spin-off and prequel to Wonder (2017), the film stars Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Bryce Gheisar, Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren, with Gheisar reprising his role as Julian from Wonder.[2]

White Bird
Theatrical release poster with original release date
Directed byMarc Forster
Screenplay byMark Bomback
Based onWhite Bird: A Wonder Story
by R. J. Palacio
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMatthias Koenigswieser
Edited byMatt Chessé
Music byThomas Newman
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • July 30, 2023 (2023-07-30) (SFJFF)[1]
Running time
120 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film premiered at the 43rd San Francisco Jewish Film Festival on July 30, 2023, and is scheduled to be released in the fourth quarter of 2023, by Lionsgate.

Premise

After the events of Wonder, Julian has left Beecher Prep for good. He is visited by his grandmother from Paris, who tells him stories of her childhood as a young Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, while being hidden from the Nazis by a distant classmate and his parents.[2][3]

Cast
  • Ariella Glaser as Sara Blum, a young Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied France
  • Orlando Schwerdt as Julien Beaumier, Sara's polio-lamed German classmate
  • Bryce Gheisar as Julian Albans
  • Gillian Anderson as Vivienne Beaumier, Julien's mother
  • Jo Stone-Fewings as Jean-Paul Beaumier, Julien's father
  • Patsy Ferran as Mille. Petitjean, Sara and Julien's teacher
  • Stuart McQuarrie as Pastor Luc, the headmaster of Sara and Julien's school
  • Olivia Ross as Rose Blum, Sara's mother
  • Ishai Golan as Max Blum, Sara's father
  • Jem Matthews as Vincent, Sara's crush
  • Jordan Cramond as Jerome

Production

Development

In October 2019, Lionsgate acquired the rights to R.J. Palacio's White Bird: A Wonder Story. Palacio said "[t]he team at Lionsgate values artists and storytellers and has been crucial to expanding the fan community surrounding Wonder. They have been enormously supportive as I have been writing White Bird and I could not feel more secure that my new graphic novel is in the right creative hands at the right studio."[4] The film is produced by Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman from Mandeville Films. Jeffrey Skoll and Robert Kissel from Participant executive produce. Marc Forster was announced as director with Mark Bomback writing and executive producing.[5][6]

Casting

In February 2021, Bryce Gheisar was confirmed to reprise his role as Julian from the 2017 film Wonder, while Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson, Orlando Schwerdt and Ariella Glaser joined the cast.[7]

Filming

Principal photography commenced in February 2021 in the Czech Republic.[3]

Locations gallery
  • Jungmannovo Square, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic doubles as WWII France
    Jungmannovo Square, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic doubles as WWII France
  • Jungmannovo Square, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic doubles as WWII France
    Jungmannovo Square, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic doubles as WWII France

Release

White Bird: A Wonder Story was initially scheduled to be released on September 16, 2022,[8] but was later delayed to October 14, 2022.[9] In September 2022, Lionsgate removed the film from its release schedule.[10]

In January 2023, it was announced White Bird was scheduled to debut in a limited release on August 18, 2023, followed by a wide release on August 25, 2023.[11] However, in July 2023, as a result of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Lionsgate pushed the release to an unspecified date in the fourth quarter of 2023.[12]

The film, presented as a "sneak preview", premiered at the 43rd San Francisco Jewish Film Festival on July 30, 2023, with a taped introduction by producer Lieberman.[1]

References
  1. "White Bird". Jewish Film Institute. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  2. Wiseman, Andreas (February 4, 2021). "Gillian Anderson To Star In Lionsgate's 'White Bird: A Wonder Story', Czech Shoot To Begin This Month". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  3. N'Duka, Amanda (February 25, 2021). "Helen Mirren Joins Gillian Anderson In Lionsgate's 'White Bird: A Wonder Story'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  4. McNary, Dave (October 1, 2019). "Lionsgate Reunites With 'Wonder' Author R.J. Palacio on 'White Bird: A Wonder Story'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  5. D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 29, 2020). "Marc Forster Directing Lionsgate & Mandeville's 'Wonder' Universe Title 'White Bird'". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  6. D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 15, 2021). "Participant To Executive Produce & Co-Finance Lionsgate Mandeville's 'White Bird: A Wonder Story'". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  7. N'Duka, Amanda (February 25, 2021). "Helen Mirren Joins Gillian Anderson In Lionsgate's 'White Bird: A Wonder Story'". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  8. D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 28, 2021). "Lionsgate Dates Samuel L. Jackson's The Protege, Jennifer Lopez's Shotgun Wedding & White Bird: A Wonder Story". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  9. Fuster, Jeremy (January 31, 2022). "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Set for September Release by Lionsgate". The Wrap. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  10. Robbins, Shawn (September 16, 2022). "Long Range Box Office Forecast: Halloween Ends, Plus Don't Worry Darling and Avatar Updates". Boxoffice. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  11. Watson, Madalyn (January 20, 2023). "White Bird: A Wonder Story Sets Summer Release Date". Collider. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  12. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 20, 2023). "Dirty Dancing Sequel & White Bird Release Dates Move Due to Dual Strikes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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