EXCLUSIVE: Ben Schnetzer has signed on to star as famed Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache in The Yellow Tie replacing Rupert Friend. Schnetzer will have a central role in the feature, playing the young Celibidache with John Malkovich set to play an older version of the conductor.
The film maps the extraordinary life of legendary classical music conductor Sergiu Celibidache, one of the most celebrated but also one of the most controversial artists of the twentieth century. From his childhood in Romania under the draconian authority of a disciplinarian father, to his painful flight from home to pursue his dream of a career in music, his struggle for survival in wartime Germany and his rise, fall and rise again, in a truly unimaginable career and life path, spanning seven decades and all four corners of the globe. This is the true story of a singular individual with a remarkable but tortuous destiny. An artist’s battle against prejudice, compromise, convention and commercialism. A man’s inspirational, lifelong quest to follow his dream and win the elusive acceptance of those dearest to his heart.
The film will be directed by the conductor’s son, Serge Ioan Celebidachi from a script co-written with James Olivier. Principal Photography on The Yellow Tie begins next month in Bucharest, Romania. Producers are Adela Vrinceanu Celebidachi, Cristina Dobritoiu, Andrei Boncea, Christopher Milburn and James Olivier with Robert W. Cort as Executive Producer.
Schnetzer is coming off his starring role in apocalyptic sci-fi drama, FX’s Y: The Last Man as well as Broadway’s The Nap, a Daniel Sullivan directed production at the Manhattan Theater Club. Additional credits include The Grizzlies, Goat and Pride. He can be seen next in Netflix’s Three Body Problem.
He is represented by Gersh, Curtis Brown and attorneys David Weber and Lon Sorenson.