UPDATED: Daniel Radcliffe Seen Dashing Through Streets of Adelaide as “Escape from Pretoria” Filming Intensifies

by · March 15, 2019

UPDATE (May 14):

Variety has confirmed that Escape from Pretoria will be released in North America. Momentum Pictures has reached a deal with Arclight Films to bring the movie to America and Canada in a theatrical release. Arclight chairman Gary Hamilton commented on the deal.

’Escape from Pretoria’ is an extraordinary and timely story that deserves to be shared with audiences. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Momentum team once again, who previously released our film ‘Jungle,’ which also starred Daniel Radcliffe.

Read below for more information on the film and stay tuned for information on its release!

—

Filming for Daniel Radcliffe’s upcoming picture Escape from Pretoria ramped up this week in Adelaide, Australia, and the actor was seen dashing through the streets while re-creating portions of his character’s daring prison escape.

Radcliffe is portraying Tim Jenkin, author of the book on which the film is based and anti-apartheid activist who, along with Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber, The Punisher), escaped from Pretoria Central Prison in 1979. The two were incarcerated the year before for their activities on behalf of Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress.

Screen International reports Arclight Films released the first official still image from the film Tuesday, which shows Radcliffe and Webber conversing in the back of a prison transport vehicle.

 

The story of Jenkin’s and Lee’s prison break reads like something out of a movie itself. Lee, who had learned to pick the lock to the back door of his home as a child, devised a plan to fashion wooden keys to the 11 doors that stood between the pair and freedom. By trial and error, they were able to create ten makeshift keys, leaving the 11th until the night of their escape due to the risk of being seen.

Their determination was incredible and something producers David Barron, Mark Blaney, and Jackie Sheppard believe audiences will find inspiring.

Much more than just another prison break thriller, ‘Escape [f]rom Pretoria’ is a story of our time, a story of risking everything in the fight for freedom and equality, against injustice and oppression.

Escape from Pretoria also features another Harry Potter alumnus in Ian Hart (Quirinus Quirrell), who plays Denis.

We gave you a first look at Radcliffe on set last week, and as escape scenes began filming this week on the streets of Adelaide, several more photos of the actor were captured and can be viewed in the gallery below. In most, Radcliffe – clad in a blue, buttoned shirt and gray trousers – is visibly sweating under the Australian sun.

Premier of South Australia Steven Marshall also posted a short video of a scene in progress to Twitter Tuesday, which shows Radcliffe moving along a busy sidewalk, a pair of bags in hand.

 

 

 

An official release date for the movie still has yet to be set, but we’ll keep you posted as additional information becomes available!