International
Christopher McQuarrie to finally helm the film adaptation of the miniseries ‘Unforgiven’
MUMBAI: The three-part British television drama series Unforgiven, written by Sally Wainwright in 2009 is being steered into a feature adaptation. Christopher McQuarrie has signed on to write, direct and produce the film adaptation of the miniseries, along with GK Films. Graham King, who‘s GK Films, has tried for several years to turn the television series into a film has finally got McQuarrie to return at the helm.
Unforgiven which is a drama-thriller about the intrigue and violence that unfolds when the protagonist woman completes a 15-year prison stretch for the murder of two policemen who‘d come to evict her family from their farmhouse. Her hope is to live quietly and reunite with her troubled younger sister, but she unwittingly becomes a target for revenge.
Suranne Jones played the lead in the mini, which was written by Sally Wainwright and directed by David Evans and was first broadcast on ITV & UTV in January 2009, and STV in 2012. The series won a British Royal Television Society award for Best Drama Serial in 2009 and a nomination for Jones as lead actress.
McQuarrie who is represented by CAA, Key Creatives and attorney David Fox was originally going to direct the film adaptation after King bought it in 2010, with Angelina Jolie as the potential lead. However he left to direct Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher and the project was put on hold. Although McQuarrie is expected to direct Cruise in Mission: Impossible 5, Unforgiven has again become a priority project for him.
Colin Vaines and Ken Kamins will be the executive producers alongside Nicola Shindler of Red Production Company and Wainwright of Sparkhouse Productions. Wainwright was also executive producer of the original mini.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
