Pawel Pawlikowski’s ‘1949’ to Star Sandra Hüller — Łukasz Żal is DP

In June 2023, Pawel Pawlikowski’s “The Island,” which was supposed to star Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, had its production halted after bond companies refused to insure it ahead of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Pawlikowski has now put it aside and officially moved on to another project. In fact, it’s just started production in Poland.

Pawlikowski’s next film will be “1949,” (originally titled “Fatherland”) which is bring described as “ambitious” in scope. Sandra Hüller Has been announced in the lead role. The producer is none other than Oscar winner Edward Berger ("Conclave") with his production company nine hours.

Directed by Pawlikowski ("Cold War"), who wrote the screenplay together with Henk Handloegten ("Babylon Berlin"), “1949” tackles one of the great novelists of the 20th century.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, 1949 follows writer Thomas Mann (Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Hüller)—an actress, journalist, and rally driver—on a road trip through a shattered Germany. Driving a black Buick cruiser, they journey from U.S.-controlled Frankfurt to Soviet-occupied Weimar.

Pawlikowski’s go-to cinematographer, Łukasz Żal will be lensing the film — he shot “The Zone of Interest,” and has turned into a much sought DP. His work can next be seen in Chloe Zhao’s “Hamnet,” set for fall release.

Pawlikowski’s last two films, “Ida” and “Cold War,” were critically-acclaimed films, both shot in black and white. I would bet good money this one will also be lensed that way, and in fact, Pawlikowski might be completing a trilogy, of sorts, with “1949.”

Joining Hüller in the ensemble are Hanns Zischler (“Munich”) August Diehl (“A Hidden Life”), Anna Madeley (“Patrick Melrose”) Devid Striesow (“All Quiet On The Western Front”), and Theo Trebs (“The White Ribbon”).

MUBI will be distributing the project with no doubt an eye for Cannes 2026.