Kevin Spacey and Christopher Lambert are said to play major characters in the Hungarian-Mongolian-English coproduction film, Gateway to the West.
“Gateway to the West” will take the audiance back to the 13th century, when Batu Khan, grandchild of the great Genghis Khan reached the walls of Esztergom. The road to conquering Europe leads through Hungary: the defenders are getting ready for the final battle. There is no help coming.
Batu Khan’s retreat in the winter of 1242 happened on Hungarian soil, but it has affected centuries of European history, as his march through the country could have caused unpredictable consequences on the continent. It seems, that the historic moment not only raised interest in the board of the National Film Institute of Hungary – earning 1,26 billion Forints (over 3 million dollars) for the production’s budget –, but convinced famous Hollywood actors too.
Multiple sources suggest that Kevin Spacey could play a leading role in the movie. The American actor struggled to find roles after his 2017 harassment scandals, but the latest rumors state that his contract has already been signed, and that he will play an Italian cardinal, the main antagonist of the film. Christopher Lambert is said to appear in the role of an old Hungarian knight, but there is no information regarding his contract yet.
The shooting is set to begin during autumn, at various Hungarian locations and studios. The screenplay was written by Áron Horváth and Joan Lane, and the director’s chair is taken by Péter Soós. If everything goes by the schedule, the theatre release can be expected in December 2023.
