First Look at Talia Ryder, Diane Kruger in Joy Womack Biopic ‘Joika’

The primary picture of Talia Ryder and Diane Kruger in ballet-themed function “Joika” has been unveiled.

James Napier Robertson (“The Darkish Horse”) wrote and directs the movie, which has began manufacturing in Poland.

Embankment are representing worldwide gross sales and co-representing U.S. rights with UTA Impartial Movie Group.

“Joika” is impressed by the true story of Pleasure Womack, an American prima ballerina who turned one of many few Western ladies to be accepted to – and graduate from – Russia’s punishing Bolshoi Academy college of ballet.

There, Womack encountered mentor Volkova, a mentor who impressed her to jeté, metaphorically-speaking, to extraordinary heights in her profession.

Womack has not solely given the biopic her blessing however is choreographing its ballet.

Ryder, who has appeared in “West Aspect Story” and “By no means Hardly ever Typically All the time,” performs Womack within the function whereas Kruger performs Volkova. Ryder can also be a classically educated dancer and, in preparation for the movie, labored with each New York Ballet principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht and Womack herself.

Kruger was additionally a ballet dance earlier than she turned an actor. She switched solely when she broke her knee on the age of 13, which successfully ended her ballet profession. In preparation for the function of Volkova she has been visitor educating ballet courses in New York alongside a Russian trainer and former prima ballerina.

“Joika’s” supporting solid can also be largely comprised {of professional} ballet dances. Tatar State Opera’s principal dancer, Oleg Ivenko, who performed Rudolph Nureyev in Ralph Fiennes’ “The White Crow,” stars reverse Ryder because the Bolshoi’s star male dancer, whereas Natalia Osipova, the principal of London’s The Royal Ballet, will play herself in a cameo function.

They’re joined by Tomasz Kot (“Chilly Warfare”), Charlotte Ubben (“The Novice”), Natasha Alderslade (“Burnt”), Karolina Gruszka (winner of a Polish Movie Pageant gong) and Borys Szyc (winner of each Montreal World Movie Pageant and Polish Movie Pageant awards).

“The extent of expertise and dedication from Talia and Diane is beautiful. Two sensible actors doing genuinely transformative work. I do know we’re on the cusp of one thing really particular,” mentioned Napier Robertson in a press release.

Napier Robertson and Tom Hern’s 4 Knights Movie (“Weapons Akimbo”) produce alongside Madants’ Klaudia Smieja-Rostworowska (“Lamb”), Belindalee Hope (“Shadow within the Cloud”) and Paul Inexperienced (“The Loft”).
Government producing are Nameless Content material’s Laurie Ross, together with Peter Touche, Andrea Scarso, Phil Rose, Michael Cerny, Charlotte Ubben and Embankment.

Backed by Ingenious Media, RBF Productions, the New Zealand Movie Fee, the Polish Movie Institute, Division of Put up and Adam Gudell from Moderator Inwestycje Group, “Joika” is a Polish-New Zealand co-production.

The movie has already been offered in Australia/New Zealand (The Reset Collective), Benelux (Paradiso), Switzerland (Ascot Elite), CIS & Baltics (Ten Letters), Germany (Sq. One), Italy (Eagle), Spain (Vertice), Greece (Spentzos), Israel (United King), South Africa (Filmfinity), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo) and Center East (Entrance Row).

Ryder is represented by UTA, Nameless Content material, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead LLP. Kruger is repped by UTA, UBBA, Untitled, Altitude and Peikoff Mahan.