The festive season is once again putting Nuremberg in the spotlight, but this time not for its Advent charm, rather as the backdrop for a Hollywood-style epic set in the 14th century. Currently, genuine Hollywood stars and their film crew are gathering in Franconia and the city of Nuremberg to shoot the medieval blockbuster "The Uprising" (formerly "The Rage"). Producer, writer, and director Paul Greengrass ("Captain Phillips," "Jason Bourne") is filming with leading actors such as Andrew Garfield ("Spider-Man: No Way Home"), Thomasin McKenzie ("The Hobbit," "Leave No Trace"), Tom Hollander ("Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation," "Bohemian Rhapsody"), Stephen Dillane ("Game of Thrones"), among others.
The film centers on the English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. A humble farmer, played by Andrew Garfield, rises up against the tyrannical rule of then 14-year-old King Richard II. The epic explores themes of suffering, plague, and the fight for justice.
After filming in recent weeks at the Franconian Open-Air Museum in Bad Windsheim and in Lichtenau - among other locations, including the fortress - the production will move to historic Nuremberg until November 19th or 20th. According to nn.de, shoots will also take place inside Nuremberg’s sacred buildings, including the "Sebalduskirche" and "St. Egidien." As reported by infranken.de, leaflets have appeared in the city center informing residents: “We would like to inform you that filming for a feature film will take place in your neighborhood.” Parking bans and other restrictions are currently making things more challenging for both residents and drivers in the downtown area.
The street photographer and (food) blogger "WOTSIT TV" showcases unusual scenes beside the „Selbalduskirche“ on his Instagram profile. Carriages can be seen there, alongside knights on horseback. The expressions of passersby reveal their near disbelief.
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It feels like history brought to life in a city that visually breathes its past at every turn. Amid horse-drawn carriages and hundreds of locally cast extras, one can even spot Tom Hollander, one of the lead actors in "The Uprising," in costume on video footage. Beyond the mentioned names and some plot hints, little has been revealed to the public, as the production company remains tight-lipped when asked. It is described as a "closed set," with onlookers kept at bay. It is known that filming is also taking place at Rathausplatz, Fünferplatz, and Winklerstraße.
@wotsittv Hollywood-Dreharbeiten zu „The Uprising / The Rage“ mit Tom Hollander an der Sebalduskirche Nürnberg #fürdich #fyp #nürnberg #hollywood #dreharbeiten @Redaktion nordbayern.de @Stadt Nuernberg ♬ Epic Inspiration - Kidmada
In response to inquiries from nn.de, Karl-Heinz Enderle, chairman of the Altstadtfreunde e.V. in Nuremberg, explained that the Pellerhaus is also part of the film: Serving both as a backdrop and as catering for actors and crew. This means that the gaming house is currently closed. All of this came about quite suddenly and required some rescheduling. But he added, “Hollywood doesn’t come to Nuremberg every day!” in an interview with nn.de.
According to the agency "Producers Friend," the entire production takes place exclusively in Upper Bavaria and Franconia, with studio scenes planned to be shot in Munich. Besides Nuremberg and the village square in the medieval complex at the Franconian Open-Air Museum in Bad Windsheim, scenes will also be filmed in the surroundings of the historic fortress Lichtenau near Ansbach. The medieval moated castle was first mentioned in the 13th century.
To ensure the smoothest possible process, exact filming days and schedules are being kept secret. Work in Franconia is expected to continue until November 19. Previously, a casting agency called for applicants for extras roles. A total of 5,000 extras are required to portray, among others, courtiers, nuns, monks, and peasants.