Based on Anna Todd’s successful fan fiction series on Harry Styles, ‘After’ is being brought to the big screen. PVR Pictures is all set to charm the country with its release on 3rd May 2019. This romantic drama introduces us to the journey of a young woman who falls for a guy with a dark secret and the two embark on a rocky relationship. Directed and written by Jenny Gage, ‘After’ is based on the 2014 fiction novel of the same name by Anna Todd. The movie features Hero Fiennes Tiffin(Hardin) and Josephine Langford(Tessa) in prominent roles, alongside Selma Blair, Shane Paul McGhie, Samuel Larsen, Khadijha Red Thunder, Swen Temmel, Inanna Sarkis , Peter Gallagher, Jennifer Beals , Pia Mia, Meadow Williams, Dylan Arnold.
“We found Hero early on in the process,” remembers Director Jenny Gage. “His tape from London was one of the first auditions that we all saw. We didn't meet him in person until later, but even on tape there was something about his vulnerability in his performance that really captivated me. He was perfect for Hardin.”
The character of Hardin Scott is described as having intense green eyes, an English accent, brooding good looks, and a piercing stare. Todd knew the moment she saw Hero that he was the perfect choice. “When I got in the room with Hero, about 30 seconds in, I said to Jen, ‘What just happened? This is it. No one else can be Hardin.’" Todd continues, “I was to the point where I was literally saying, ‘If you guys even think about trying to hire someone else, we’re going to be making a mistake.’ Hero has something.”
Despite being unaware of the source material, the actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin was interested in what makes Hardin Scott tick. “I had never heard of the book After when I first auditioned, but as soon as I mentioned it, everyone and their mum around me knew what it was,” remembers Fiennes Tiffin. “I don't relate to Hardin in too many ways, and that's why I find him funny to play, because there are aspects of his personality that interest me – his lack of self-control, the fact he's very logical but also impulsive and can be very erratic and unpredictable. Hardin is a womanizer who changes throughout the film, thanks to Tessa. Hardin is a dangerous character, he can go either way, you think you know him and then he will surprise you.”
“Hero comes from an incredible lineage of actors: his uncles are Ralph and Joseph Fiennes,” states producer Mark Canton. “Also, Josephine’s older sister Katherine, has been a big star on the Netflix series ‘13 Reasons Why.’” But it was more than their famous gene pools that made Josephine and Hero right for these roles.
The search for the role of Tessa proved to be more challenging and continued until just before shooting began. “At the exact right moment, this girl happened to Skype in from Perth, Australia auditioning for the role of Molly, and the second she came on screen, I said ‘That is our Tessa’, explains producer Jennifer Gibgot.
Josephine Langford recalls, “I was back home and did a self-tape for Molly, then I did a Skype callback, then a week later when I was waiting to hear back about Molly, I got a call at 5:00AM from my agents who said, ‘The producers want to meet with you for the lead role.’ So I got on a plane with about sixteen hours’ notice, read the script on the plane to LA, had a meeting and about two other meetings and then got the job.”
When asked about working with each other Fiennes Tiffin shares, “I could go on for ages about working with Josephine, but I’ll start with her acting ability, which helps me so much, and the fact she's such a nice, considerate person. She acts so well, especially in emotional scenes, and really gives me a lot to feed off. She’s really carrying this film,”.
Langford is equally complimentary of her leading man. “Hero brings this vulnerability and sincerity to Hardin which is difficult to find with a character like that. I’ve loved working with him,” Langford comments. “When you're doing this type of content - a lot of intimate and intense scenes – it’s so important that you feel safe and comfortable with the person you’re working with. So I feel lucky to have had him as a partner through this experience.”
Catch this saga of love on the silver screen on 3rd May 2019 in the cinemas near you.
