Film fans have a new theatrical obsession to anticipate with the upcoming romantic thriller City of Masks, a contemporary reimagining inspired by Gaston Leroux's 1910 Gothic novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, which also inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
The musical masterpiece has captivated audiences worldwide since 1986, enthralling more than 160 million people with its haunting melodies, sweeping romance and spectacular staging. Now, City of Masks places an enigmatic female composer at the heart of the story.
A Haunted Theatre and a Masked Composer
The synopsis reads: "Set inside a haunted London theatre, City of Masks follows a brilliant composer hiding behind a mask who orchestrates the rise of an ambitious young actor. As an obsessive theatre director fights to keep the past buried, love, jealousy and betrayal threaten to expose the theatre's darkest secret."
Leading the cast is former Sky Sports presenter Charlotte Jackson Coleman, who stars as stage manager Helen. The 48-year-old actress spent more than 15 years presenting for Sky Sports and ITV before pursuing her lifelong dream of acting, graduating from acting school in 2021.
Cast and Production Details
"Auditions were emotionally draining and the early jobs paid very little," she said. "But I knew I had to keep going. I wanted to make it work. Some of the emotional scenes were tough. I'd use music to help get me into that headspace, but often it was about being in the moment with my co-stars."
Charlotte, who is married to football manager Chris Coleman, has appeared in several television and film projects since her transition. She earned a Best Actress nomination at the Romford Film Festival for her portrayal of Dr Charlotte Wilder-Smythe in the short film A Positive Contribution.
Joining her are Amanda Jiang as the enigmatic Eve, Charlie Goddard, who appeared as a dancer in Barbie, as the ambitious actor Christian, and former EastEnders star Deano Bugatti Mitchison as the formidable theatre director Victor. Kay Boggett portrays Christian's mother, Julie, and Madalina Bellariu Ion, who shared the screen with Jude Law and Diane Keaton in The Young Pope, plays detective Maya.
Release Date
Produced by Enrico Tessarin, Amanda Jiang, Andrea M. Catinella, Carla Fuschillo and Arnaldo Stafa, City of Masks is the first production backed by Starmist's Pegasus Fund. It arrives in cinemas on October 30.
