ALICIA VIKANDER, JAMIE DORNAN, JODIE TURNER-SMITH, BILL NIGHY AND GILLIAN ANDERSON TO STAR IN VISIONARY ANIMATION FANTASY THE TURNING DOOR

•      Nicholas Ashe Bateman (The Wanting Mare) directing
•     2AM (Past Lives) and Maere Studios (An Almost Christmas Story) to produce
•      Mister Smith Entertainment to launch international sales at upcoming AFM

Alicia Vikander (Firebrand, The Danish Girl), Jamie Dornan (Belfast), Jodie Turner-Smith (Tron: Ares), Bill Nighy (Living) and Gillian Anderson (Sex Education) will voice starring roles in the upcoming family fantasy animation epic, THE TURNING DOOR, written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and VFX supervisor Nicholas Ashe Bateman (The Wanting Mare). The film is produced by Christine D’Souza Gelb of 2AM (Babygirl, Past Lives) with Nicholas Ashe Bateman and Hunter Hall of Maere Studios (An Almost Christmas Story). The film will feature original music and songs written by People Museum’s Claire Givens (Mother Mary) and Bateman. Production is currently underway.

Mister Smith Entertainment is onboard for international sales and will introduce footage from the film to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market. 2AM is handling North American sales.

THE TURNING DOOR is filmmaker Nicholas Ashe Bateman’s second feature following sci-fi fantasy The Wanting Mare (2020). He is the founder of Maere Studios, the award-winning VFX and animation studio, designing effects for films such as The Green Knight, Origin, Hocus Pocus 2, Mother Mary, Peter Pan and Wendy and An Almost Christmas Story.

As a party rages downstairs, young Ariadlyn is sent to bed. Escaping her bedtime, she slips into her parents’ room, where she discovers an ornate wooden box, opening a door to a magical world called The Turning. To find her way back home and save her parents – now frozen in the real world – Ariadlyn must seek out a sorceress and her crystal vial. Along the way, she will encounter giants, whales, armies, shapeshifters and acrobatic monkeys as she discovers what it means to grow up.

Filmmaker Nicholas Ashe Bateman commented, “The pictures, places and songs of The Turning Door have been with me since I was a child. Thematically, its world is a combination of the ones which have filled me with wonder since I was little: the Neverlands, Wonderlands and all those adventures in far-off fantasies. Technically, the film is the result of the past fifteen years of trying to make stories – while developing the tools, the dreams and the incredible artists needed to pursue them. More than ever, it’s important to believe that independent animation made by passionate artists and a dream cast has a place in the world; entirely new cinematic experiences – made by people – without any generative AI.”

Mister Smith Entertainment CEO David Garrett added, “Anyone with a heart and with an appreciation of the magic of filmmaking, cannot help but fall in love with this film. It has the makings of a classic for all audiences for all time.”

Academy Award-winning actor and producer, Alicia Vikander, is one of the most versatile artists of her generation. Alicia has collaborated with some of the industry’s most respected filmmakers, garnering critical recognition for a diverse range of roles from THE DANISH GIRL, to EX MACHINA, and TOMB RAIDER.

In 2015, Alicia won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in THE DANISH GIRL, directed by Tom Hooper. Her performance was internationally revered across the industry, with further recognition from BAFTA, SAG, and Critics Choice, among others. Her work was equally praised in the Oscar-winning EX MACHINA, with Alicia receiving Golden Globe and SAG nominations alongside several critic circle wins.

Alicia’s other notable credits include Karim Aïnouz’s FIREBRAND; the 2024 Cannes-premiered RUMOURS, opposite Cate Blanchett; Fleur Fortuné’s debut feature THE ASSESSMENT; A24/HBO co-production, IRMA VEP, directed by Olivier Assayas; Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, and Guy Maddin’s RUMOURS. She starred as ‘Lara Croft’ in the Warner Bros’s 2018 blockbuster TOMB RAIDER; led Lisa Langseth’s EUPHORIA, which she also produced under her banner Vikarious Productions; Justin Chon’s BLUE BAYOU; David Lowery’s THE GREEN KNIGHT; Derek Cianfrance’s THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS; Wim Wenders’s SUBMERGENCE; and Guy Ritchie’s THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Most recently, Alicia starred in THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN, reuniting with acclaimed filmmaker, Olivier Assayas. The film premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, receiving a nomination for the Golden Lion.

Next, Alicia is also set to star in ambitious sci-fi thriller, HOPE, directed by legendary Korean director Na Hong-jin (The Wailing). She will lead visual artist Rachel Rose’s debut feature, a Virginia Woolf-inspired drama entitled THE LAST DAY, alongside Victoria Pedretti and Wagner Moura.

Alicia is currently starring in director Simon Stone’s radical new interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic Norwegian play, THE LADY FROM THE SEA. Marking Alicia’s UK theatre debut and her first theatrical stage role in over 17 years, she has received widespread critical acclaim for her powerful turn as Ellida opposite Andrew Lincoln.

Alicia is a longtime ambassador for Louis Vuitton.

Jamie Dornan first gained attention for his riveting performance as a serial killer in the BBC drama, THE FALL, which garnered him an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor and a BAFTA TV Award nomination. Other notable credits include starring roles in Kenneth Branagh’s BELFAST for which he earned Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations, THE TOURIST which premiered to record ratings for the BBC, BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR with Kristen Wiig and Matthew Heineman’s A PRIVATE WAR. Dornan will next be seen starring in Netflix’s upcoming series, THE UNDERTOW and Apple’s series which he also produced, 12 12 12.

British actress Jodie Turner-Smith gained widespread recognition for her captivating performance in Queen & Slim, earning critical acclaim for her breakout role. Other notable TV and film credits include starring roles in Koganada’s After Yang, the Channel 5 series “Anne Boleyn,” Apple TV’s “Bad Monkey” and Noah Baumbach’s acclaimed feature White Noise. Currently, you can see her in Tron: Aresand the hit series “The Agency” which will return for season 2 in 2026.

Bill Nighy is a multi-award-winning actor of both the stage and screen, with an expansive career spanning fifty years. Bill has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor (LIVING) and has received a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor (LOVE ACTUALLY), among many other accolades. Most recently, Bill was seen as part of the leading cast of JOY, a Netflix feature film based on the true story of the world’s first in vitro fertilization baby, released globally in October 2024. Bill will next be seen starring in the acclaimed &SONS, marking director Pablo Trapero’s English-language feature debut and scripted by Sarah Polley. Bill will also star in Morgan Matthews’ 500 MILES alongside Maisie Williams, which follows two brothers who travel to Ireland to find their estranged grandfather. In addition, Bill is set to star in Jason Statham’s upcoming action-thriller SHELTER, releasing in cinemas Jan. 30 2026.

Bill portrays Doctor Lazarus in the forthcoming LAZARUS for Prime Video, created by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst. Currently in post-production, the psychological mystery thriller explores themes around loss, redemption, and the enduring bond between parent and child. In addition, Bill has been announced to star in the upcoming six-part BBC series CALIFORNIA AVENUE, set in a nostalgia-soaked 1970s trailer park overlooking the English Channel. Bill will also be seen in Prime Video’s upcoming action-adventure series RIDE OR DIE. Bill was seen in THE FIRST OMEN, a prequel to the 1976 classic horror ‘THE OMEN’, released in cinemas in April 2024. Bill also starred in Netflix’s feature film THE BEAUTIFUL GAME; directed by Thea Sharrock which centres around a group of English homeless footballers. In 2022, Bill starred in LIVING, an adaptation from the 1952 Japanese classic Iriku by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni, premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. For this role Bill was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Actor 2023), BAFTA (Leading Actor 2023), Critics Choice Award (Best Actor 2023), and a SAG Award (Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role 2023).

Bill’s extensive list of film credits also includes ROLE PLAY (2023); THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (2022), MINAMATA (2021), EMMA (2020), HOPE GAP (2020), THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS (2019), POKEMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU (2019), SOMETIMES, ALWAYS, NEVER (2019), THE BOOKSHOP (2018), BY INNOCENCE (2018), LIMEHOUSE GOLEM(2017), THEIR FINEST (2017), RED NOSE DAY ACTUALLY (2017), WILD TARGET  (2010),PIRATE RADIO (2009), VALKYRIE (2008), NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006), THE CONSTANT GARDENER (2005), LOVE ACTUALLY (2003),  LAWLESS HEART (2001) and STILL CRAZY(1998). Bill began his career on the stage and has since earned acclaim for his work in numerous plays, including David Hare’s PRAVDA (1985), SKYLIGHT (1995) and A MAP OF THE WORLD (1983). He received an Olivier Award nomination in 2001 for Best Actor for his performance in Joe Penhall’s BLUE/ORANGE.

Gillian Anderson is an award-winning film, television, and theatre actress, who has carefully curated decades-worth of iconic and impactful characters. Amongst an impressive collection of nominations, spanning from the mid-nineties to present day, Gillian has won 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, 2 Golden Globes, 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards and an Evening Standard Theatre Award.

Later this year Gillian will be seen in Netflix’s wild west drama series THE ABANDONS and Channel 4’s series TRESPASSES, which is based on Louise Kennedy’s novel of the same name. Also on the horizon for next year is the Ben Affleck directed crime-thriller ANIMALS, and Jane Schoenbrun’s upcoming TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA. Gillian also recently joined the coming-of-age drama THE JULIA SET, which she will also produce.

In addition to her acting work, Gillian is widely recognised for her charitable work, including her role as Global Ambassador for War Child and founder of SAYes Mentoring. As an author, she co-wrote the bestselling We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere with Jennifer Nadel, and more recently her second book – Want – was also included on The New York Times and The Sunday Times Bestsellers List, with a sequel in the works.

She is the founder of the wellness drinks brand G-Spot, and in 2016 was appointed an honorary OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her services to drama.

Nicholas Ashe Bateman is an artist, filmmaker and the founder of the award-winning visual effects, design and animation company Maere Studios. As a writer/director, his acclaimed debut feature film – the microbudget The Wanting Mare – was released in 2021. As the visual effects supervisor for Maere Studios, he has supervised and designed for over 25 feature films in the past years, including A24’s The Green Knight, Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2, Peter Pan & Wendy, M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin and Ava Duvernay’s Origin. Launching the division of Maere Studios Animation, the company’s newest work is a co-production with Disney Branded Television and Alfonso Cuarón’s Esperanto films, entitled An Almost Christmas Story, directed by David Lowery.

Vikander is represented by UTA. Dornan is repped by UTA, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern, and Relevant. Turner-Smith is represented by UTA, 111 Media, The Lede Company and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Nighy is represented by UTA, Independent Talent Group, QVoice, Public Eye Communications and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein. Anderson is represented by UTA and Independent Talent Group. Bateman is represented by UTA, 2am, and Granderson Des Rochers.

About 2AM

2AM is an Oscar-nominated film and TV production company and talent management firm led by Christine D’Souza Gelb, David Hinojosa, and Kevin Rowe. The company launched in early 2021 with strategic partnership with A24 and has offices in New York and Los Angeles.

On the management side, 2AM represents a deep roster of multi-hyphenate auteurs and creators, including Arkasha Stevenson, James Sweeney, Elegance Bratton, A.V. Rockwell, Sean Hayes, Savanah Leaf, Mary Bronstein, Dominic Fike, Tommy Dorfman, Janicza Bravo, Jack Begert, Matt Spicer, Jeremy O. Harris, Eliza Scanlen Remi Wolf, Raffi Donatich, and more.

2AM has produced PAST LIVES, which was nominated for Best Picture at the 2024 Academy Awards and won Best Feature at the Independent Spirit and Gotham awards. Additional production titles include Halina Reijn’s BABYGIRL, starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and Antonio Banderas, as well as Celine Song’s MATERIALISTS, starring Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and Pedro Pascal. 2AM just wrapped production on Charli XCX’s upcoming film THE MOMENT.

2AM has been very active in the independent financing and sales division and has represented auteur-driven projects as executive producers who shepherd films through development, fundraising, sales, and distribution strategy. Select credits in this area include the upcoming Alexander Payne’s SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, Jordan Tanahill’s RAPTURE, Michael Cera’s LOVE IS NOT THE ANSWER, as well as previous titles that include EARTH MAMA, LOVE ME, RESURRECTION, LITTLE DEATH, and OMNI LOOP.

About Maere Studios

Maere Studios is the award-winning visual effects and design studio behind such films as A24’s The Green Knight, Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2, Peter Pan & Wendy, M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin and Ava Duvernay’s Origin. Maere Studios has emerged as a new leader in world-building, cutting edge digital production, and overall pre and post design supervision across dozens of feature films in recent years. Launching the division of Maere Studios Animation, the company co-produced An Almost Christmas Story, which was awarded the Special Jury Prize for Television Special at the 2025 Annecy Film Festival.

About Mister Smith Entertainment

Mister Smith Entertainment (MSE) is involved in the financing, co-financing, and licensing of high-quality mainstream feature films and filmmaker-driven movies for the global market. MSE’s current sales slate includes Fantastic Fest and Sitges selection Bone Lake, a psychosexual thriller/horror directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan; Directors’ Fortnight selection Dangerous Animals, a horror thriller directed by Australian genre auteur Sean Byrne and starring Hassie Harrison, Jai Courtney, and Josh Heuston; Christmas comedy Tinsel Town, directed by Chris Foggin and starring Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson; SXSW Narrative Spotlight selection The Threesome, a comedy drama directed by Chad Hartigan and starring Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King, and Ruby Cruz; magical realist drama The Accompanist, directed by Zach Woods and starring Susan Sarandon, Aubrey Plaza and Everly Carganilla; drama Everybody Digs Bill Evans, directed by Grant Gee and starring Anders Danielsen Lie, Bill Pullman, and Laurie Metcalf; action/spy thriller Blake & Mortimer: The Yellow M, directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and starring Corey Mylchreest and Phil Dunster; supernatural horror thriller Hide and Don’t Speak directed by Alexander J. Farrell and starring Tanner Buchanan, Garrett Wareing and Quvenzhané Wallis; and faith-based family epic In the Beginning, directed by
David L. Cunningham.

For further information, please visit MSE’s website: https://mistersmithent.com/