First Synopsis for Joe Wright's 'Anna Karenina' starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen (updated)

While former  Pride & Prejudice stars Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, and director Joe Wright are currently filming their new film, Anna Karenina, unfortunately, no on set photos (even papz) available anywhere, no theatrical release date (other than sometime later in the second half of 2012), or no other important updates from filming and on the set gossip with our trio has surfaced online as of yet. However, Focus Features (Pride & Prejudice and Atonement), who is distributing it domestically, just released the synopsis (via Collider) for Anna Karenina along with another new Keira Knightley film, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

Updated 12/30/11: Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery (a frequent co-star of P&P 05 actors) just mention in a new Collider "Downton Abbey" interview/article that she's indeed cast in Anna Karenina (no mentioned of what character she's playing though) and here's the part where she mentioned it as well as the movies and miniseries that she had previously worked with P&P actors and director Joe Wright (FYI: she was in Return to Cranford with Judi Dench and Claudie Blakley, Hanna with Tom Hollander and director Joe Wright, Downton Abbey with Penelope Wilton, and now Anna Karenina with Keira, Matthew, and Joe Wright)...

DOCKERY: Yes, I’d love too. I really would love too. I love America and I hope that the success of Downton Abbey may open some doors for us. I’m actually not available at the moment because I’m doing a part in a Joe Wright film. He’s doing an adaptation of Anna Karenina, which is another period piece. I have some lovely scenes to do with Keira Knightley.

Read her full interview here via Collider!

Read synopsis for both Anna Karenina and Seeking a Friend below...


ANNA KARENINA – 2012
The third collaboration of Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley with director Joe Wright, following the award-winning boxoffice successes “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement,” is the epic love story “Anna Karenina,” adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (“Shakespeare in Love”). The story unfolds in its original late-19^th-century Russia high-society setting and powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart, from the passion between adulterers to the bond between a mother and her children. As Anna (Ms. Knightley) questions her happiness, change comes to her family, friends, and community.

Director: Joe Wright (“Atonement,” “Pride & Prejudice,” “Hanna”)
Writer: Tom Stoppard (“Shakespeare in Love”); Based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy
Cast: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Ruth Wilson

Here's an update of Anna Karenina's confirmed cast (as listed above)...and now includes Ruth Wilson and Emily Watson. In addition, Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery (who had a cameo on JW's recent Hanna film) is said  (and is listed on IMDB) to be playing Princess Betsy, but Working Title Films (who is producing this film, had previously listed Andrea Riseborough as playing Princess Betsy,  but it seems she's no longer in the cast) now has updated/listed Ruth Wilson playing Princess Betsy. Confusing much? lol...we shall see when we hear more info about their characters and their confirmation soon.  For now, I'll go with Ruth Wilson as Princess Betsy as listed on Working Title's website (as IMDB is often edited out like Wikipedia...though someone said at the AK IMDB board that she's playing Princess Betsy Tverskaya as revealed by herself in The London Evening Standard...so, who knows? and Michelle Dockery herself confirmed it in a new Collider interview here!)

Anyway, I've updated the main AK cast (2012) collage here...

~*~ Confirmed Anna Karenina (2012) Cast ~*~

Keira Knightley ~ Anna Karenina
Jude Law ~ Aleksei Karenin (Anna's husband)
Aaron Johnson ~ Count Vronsky (Anna's lover)
Matthew Macfadyen ~ Oblonsky (Anna's brother)
Kelly Macdonald ~ Dolly (Oblonky's wife)
Alicia Vikander ~ Kitty (Dolly's younger sister)
Domhnall Gleeson ~ Levin
 Andrea Riseborough ~ Princess Betsey
Olivia Williams ~ Countess Vronskaya (Vronsky's mother)
Emily Watson ~ Countess Lydia 
Ruth Wilson ~ ?!?
*Michelle Dockery  (*confirmed) ~ Princess Betsy???

Anna Karenina (include several familiar P&P/Atonement) Crew 

Director: Joe Wright (“Atonement,” “Pride & Prejudice,” “Hanna”)

Writer: Tom Stoppard (“Shakespeare in Love”); Based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy

Producer: Tim Bevan (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement), Alexandra Ferguson (co-producer)
Original Music by: Dario Marianelli (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, The Soloist, Jane Eyre)
Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey (Atonement, The Soloist)
Film Editor: Melanie Oliver
Casting by: Dixie Chassay, Jina Jay (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Hanna) 
Production Design by: Sarah Greenwood (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, The Soloist, Hanna)
Set Decorator: Katie Spencer (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Hanna)
Costume Design by: Jacqueline Durran (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, The Soloist)
Production Companies: Studio Canal (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, The Soloist), Working Title Films (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, The Soloist)
Distributors: Focus Features (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Hanna) for US theatrical release 2012; Universal Pictures (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement) for UK/International release 2012

See Full cast and crew (via IMDB)

And here's the synopsis and theatrical release date for another new Keira Knightley film, also from Focus Features as well...

SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD – April 20, 2012 (wide)
The feature directorial debut of screenwriter Lorene Scafaria stars Golden Globe Award winner Steve Carell and Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley. Set in a too-near future, the movie explores what people will do when humanity’s last days are at hand. As the respective journeys of Dodge (Mr. Carell) and Penny (Ms. Knightley) converge, the two spark to each other and their outlooks – if not the world’s – brighten.

Writer/Director: Lorene Scafaria (“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist”)
Cast: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Rob Corddry, Gillian Jacobs, Derek Luke, Melanie Lynskey, TJ Miller, Mark Moses, Patton Oswalt, William Petersen

Related links
Focus Features Announces Release Dates For First Half of 2012