Hollywood
Ang Lee to direct ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ for TriStar & Studio 8
MUMBAI: Jeff Robinov’s Fosun-backed Studio 8, together with Chinese distribution company Bona Film Group, will partner with Tom Rothman’s TriStar and Film4 on the adaptation of Ben Fountain’s acclaimed novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, to be directed by three-time Oscar-winner Ang Lee.
The deal brings together several members of the family of companies at Sony Pictures, which will distribute the film worldwide, except for Greater China, which Bona Film Group Ltd will handle. Film 4 will have UK free television.
The film is now set for start of principal photography in mid-April and casting is underway.
In the film, Bravo Company, and 19-year-old private Billy Lynn, survive a harrowing Iraq battle that is captured by news cameras. They are brought home by the US administration for a promotional tour, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game, all while facing an imminent return to the war. Almost the entire movie takes place during the day of the game, with flashes back to the underlying events and Billy’s heroism.
The film will explore new methods, both technological and artistic, with the goal of further engaging the audience. Lee will use the Sony F65 camera shooting in native 3D, high resolution, and with an ultra-high frame rate to create a different cinematic syntax in service of the story. He envisions creating a new way for audiences to experience drama, including the heightened sensation that soldiers really feel on the battlefield and on the home front.
Rothman said, “Ang is pushing the envelope even beyond what we achieved in Life of Pi. Innovation is key to getting audiences out to cinemas now, but such advances often take a brave village. I have long admired Jeff personally and have great respect for Studio 8 and Bona. It’s a neat fit as we are all in the business of trying to do cool things for Sony, not to mention we park right next to each other.”
Robinov added, “Ang Lee’s vision for this remarkable story is incredibly exciting to all of the partners involved and perfectly captures the types of filmmaker-driven movies we want to make at Studio 8. We are thankful that Tom Rothman included us in this fantastic project and are looking forward to working on this together.”
Bona founder, chairman and CEO Yu Dong said, “Since last year, we’ve been working closely with our strategic partner Fosun to explore their resources in the entertainment industry as we roll out our international strategy to grow a significant presence in Hollywood. Having the opportunity to work on Ang Lee’s next film and being the only partner in China speaks to our strong film production and distribution capabilities, as well as marks a very important first step for Bona to gain international recognition. We look forward to participating in more Hollywood mainstream films while at the same time bringing high-quality foreign films to the domestic market.”
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk will be produced by Marc Platt, Ink Factory’s Stephen Cornwell, Rhodri Thomas and Simon Cornwell, and Ang Lee. The film is being made in association with Film4, which developed the original draft of the script with Simon Beaufoy. The current screenplay revisions are by Jean-Christophe Castelli.
Studio 8, based in Culver City, California on the SPE lot, is funded in partnership with the Chinese investment management firm Fosun Group and with SPE which will distribute up to six films worldwide annually. Studio 8 has secured 1 billion in financing.
New Delhi [India], March 11: Moscow is quickly becoming a top destination for international film productions, and Bollywood is taking notice. With modern studios, iconic city streets, and rich cultural locations, the city offers filmmakers both visual variety and logistical support. Over the past few years, collaboration between Moscow and the Indian film industry has intensified, with high-profile projects and joint initiatives demonstrating the city’s growing appeal.
We speak with Georgy Prokopov, CEO of Moscow Film Cluster, about what makes Moscow an attractive destination for Indian filmmakers, the practical benefits of shooting here, and how the city is supporting international productions.
How would you describe the main objective of the Moscow Film Cluster for entering the Indian market and participating in the IIFTC Conclave 2026?
At this stage, our goal is very specific: to establish Moscow Film Cluster as a clear, competitive and economically efficient location for Indian producers. The cluster is part of the program, initiated by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. The key point is that this is not a one-off project – it represents a consistent, long-term city infrastructure designed to support international film production over the years.
What kind of financial support does Moscow offer Indian filmmakers?
Moscow provides rebates of up to 45% on eligible production and post-production expenses.. Producers may receive up to 30% of approved production or post-production costs as a direct financial rebate and up to 15% in benefits from reduced accommodation, logistics and services within Moscow Film Cluster and the city ecosystem. The main advantage is the in the transparent and structuredmodel: rebate categories are clearly defined, local cost thresholds are fixed, and the application and review procedure is standardized and supported by Moscow Film Cluster. This allows Indian producers to plan projects with a clear understanding of potential rebates, even though the exact amount is confirmed only after submission and approval..
How does the current financial settlement system between Russia and India affect co-productions?
One factor enhancing the attractiveness of joint projects is the direct RUB/INR settlement system. Around 90–95% of payments between Russia and India are now made without using USD or EUR, reducing currency risks. The banking infrastructure is fast: up to 60% of payments from Russia to India are processed within 10 minutes, the rest within 24 hours; from India to Russia, about 15% of transactions are completed within 10 minutes. For producers, this means payments for services, fees, and local contractors can be handled efficiently without delays or extra exchange costs.
What practical measures has Moscow already implemented to simplify the visa regime, the entry to Russia, organizational issues for the stay of Indian film crews?
Producers are naturally concerned not only with locations and rebates, but also with the time and effort required to organize a shoot. Moscow and India already enjoy strong economic and sectoral cooperation, which allows humanitarian and entry procedures to be simplified. This includes electronic visas and more predictable border processes.
Moscow Film Cluster and Moscow Film Commission work closely with Russian production partners who accompany Indian crews during preparation and filming in Moscow –from coordinating the shooting process coordination to providing on-site organizational support. Moscow also negotiates discounts on accommodation and services for film crews within the city ecosystem. The goal is to ensure producers receive all necessary services through a single managed system, without having to coordinate multiple agencies.
What types of locations and venues in Moscow might be particularly interesting for Indian projects?
Moscow offers a broad range of shooting options. Within the cluster, Film City brings together diverse spaces– from historic streets to modern European-style quarters – ideal for projects that move across countries or time periods. Film Factory adds technological capabilities for projects with heavy VFX requirements, while Gorky Film Studio provides fully equipped sound stages, workshops, and the largest archive of costumes and props, reducing the need to build everything from scratch.
Outside the studios, Moscow offers varied urban and natural locations: the historic center, modern business districts, residential areas, parks, and transport infrastructure. All urban shoots are coordinated through Film Commission, minimizing delays and simplifying the permit process.
How would you explain the Moscow Film Cluster structure to Indian producers? Where are the main points of contact with production?
In simple terms, it is a one-stop-shop ecosystem. It includes: Film City with its large backlots, Film Factory with its capabilities, Gorky Film Studio, Film Commission, a dedicated digital platform and Moskino cinema chain.
The integrated cluster structure allows to managethe entire cycle: from scouting and location shooting to post-production and movie screening for Moscow audiences. Sincethe cluster directly manages key locations and infrastructure, pricing is transparent and predictable, which is a major advantage for international partners.
How much interest is there specifically from India, and how has this interest been transformed into real projects?
The Indian interest in Moscow as a production site has become more concrete over the past two years. At FICCI FRAMES 2025, we presented Moscow Film Cluster as a venue partner and held over a hundred meetings with Indian companies, from major studios to service providers.
Smash is a good example of how financial and infrastructure instruments can be combined: the agreement was signed at the Moscow International Film Week. So, the shooting in Moscow will begin in 2026 and is supported by a rebate program. Part of the shooting will take place at the FILM CITY and part will take place at city locations. For us, this is an indicator that the Indian market perceives Moscow not as an abstract possibility, but as a real solution for specific production tasks.
What key advantages of shooting in Moscow would you highlight for Indian producers and studios?
In short, it is a combination of three groups of factors.
The first one is economics: up to 45% rebate, competitive labor costs, large backlogs that reduce travel expenses and an improved RUB/INR payment infrastructure that reduces currency and time costs.
The second one is process manageability: centralized work of tFilm Commission, digital application procedures and a clear set of rules for using city locations and infrastructure.
And the third one is the ecosystem approach: the ability to conduct most of the production cycle in one city and within one managed system—from Film City and Film Factory to Gorky Film Studio and the Moskino network. For Indian producers with their busy schedules and high demands on content volume, this allows for more accurate planning of workloads and budgets.
What message would you like to convey to the Indian industry following your participation in IIFTC 2026?
The main message is that Moscow Film Cluster is already an operational system, not a ‘in-progress’ one, and it was originally designed as a tool for international producers. We openly discuss the rebate structure, infrastructure and working conditions, based on facts and projects that have already been launched, including those with Indian partners.
Pragmatically speaking, we invite Indian companies to view Moscow as a regular link in their production chains: not as a one-off ‘exotic’ location, but as a city that can be included in their content production schedule for several years ahead.
How would you describe the main objective of the Moscow Film Cluster for entering the Indian market and participating in the IIFTC Conclave 2026?
At this stage, our objective is very specific: establishing Moscow Film Cluster as a clear, competitive and economically efficient location for Indian producers. The cluster is being created and developed as part of Moscow City Film Program, initiated by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. And this is a key point: we are not talking about a one-off project, but about a consistent city infrastructure.
International marketplaces are professional entry points for us into dialogue with the industry, where we can show how the Moscow model works – not in theory, but in figures and production scenarios.
Rebate and project economics
Up to 45% cost rebate in Moscow:
30% — direct cash rebate on eligible expenses.
Up to 15% — through discounts on accommodation, logistics and services within the cluster and city ecosystem.
Rebate is available for shooting and post-production upon reaching the set thresholds for local costs. The cluster was created as part of the Moscow – City of Cinema program initiated by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
Infrastructure
Key cluster elements: Film City (backlots), Film Factory (virtual and industrial production), Maxim Gorky Film Studio, Moscow Film Commission, Film in Moscow digital platform, Moskino cinema chain.
Examples of current projects: sports drama Smash (co-production by Smena / Kartina Entertainment), shooting in Moscow with a applicated rebate from March 2026.
Financial settlements between Russia and India
90–95% of settlements between countries are already conducted in RUB and INR, without the dollar or euro.
Up to 60% of payments from Russia to India completed within 10 minutes, and the rest – within 24 hours.
About 15% of payments from India to Russia take 10 minutes.
