Danish freelance photographer Daniel Rye was travelling in Syria in 2013 when he was captured by the Islamic State. For 398 days, ISIS held him hostage along with 23 other foreign nationals, including American journalist James Foley who later became the first victim of ISIS' video-recorded executions.
Now Rye's story is about to be made into film. 'Daniel' is based on Puk Damsgård's bestselling book 'Ser du månen, Daniel' (English 'The Isis Hostage') and is to be directed by Niels Arden Oplev with a script by Anders Thomas Jensen. Shooting is due to start in October in Denmark, Sweden, Jordan and Canada.
'Daniel' recounts the dramatic narrative of the young photographer's life in captivity and also follows the growing desperation of Rye's family back in Denmark as well as the nerve-wracking hostage negotiations between Denmark and ISIS.
The lead as Daniel Rye is to be played by Esben Smed, known from 'Summer of '92,' 'Amina's Letters' and the television show 'Follow the Money.' Anders W. Berthelsen, playing the Danish negotiator, has featured in numerous films by Niels Arden Oplev, most recently in 'Speed Walking.'
Niels Arden Oplev
Born 1961, Denmark. After film studies at Copenhagen University, Oplev graduated in direction at the National Film School of Denmark in 1989.
His feature film debut, 'Portland' (1996), was selected for the Berlinale, and 'We Shall Overcome' (2006) took home the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale.
Niels Arden Oplev says about 'Daniel':
"The vision is simple: to bring us as close as possible to the intense events and challenges that Daniel Rye and the people around him went through. It's a story of great emotional depth and intense moments of both sadness and joy. A story about nothing less than life and death, survival and about healing your mind."
Oplev directed the 2009 original Swedish version of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.' Currently based in Los Angeles, Oplev has worked on TV series such as 'Under the Dome' and 'Mr. Robot' and has directed the Hollywood feature films 'Dead Man Down' and 'Flatliners.'
Scriptwriter Anders Thomas Jensen has written more than thirty features, notably for Susanne Bier, including for her Oscar triumph 'In a Better World.' As a director Jensen has released four films, most recently the dark-humoured 'Men & Chicken.'
Eric Kress will serve as DoP, and Anne Østerud is editor. Morten Kaufmann and Signe Leick Jensen are producing for Toolbox Film with support from the Danish Film Institute, DR, Swedish Film Institute, Norwegian Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fund and West Danish Film Fund, in association with SVT and YLE. Trustnordisk is handling international sales.
Danish release is scheduled for September 2019.