The exploits of one of histories greatest folk heroes, William Tell, are making their way to the big screen, and we finally have a sense of what to expect, thanks to the release of the film’s official trailer. Starring the likes of Claes Bang and Ben Kingsley, the feature will be bringing a centuries-old Swiss legend to a wider audience.
A synopsis of the film, provided by Beta Cinema, reads as follows:
“307, the Holy Roman Empire is in turmoil. As its grip on Europe loosens, new dynasties such as the Austrian Habsburg Family encroach on new lands, desperate for power. Switzerland, the once peaceful country, is overwhelmed and bows under the Austrian might. When the local huntsman William Tell sees a farmer begging for help after murdering a cruel Austrian governor, he reluctantly agrees to guide him to a safe location.
“But as he meets with more comrades along the way, Tell realizes that this act of violence is a larger sign of what’s to come with the growing Swiss resistance. Tell is drawn into the madness when the cruel Austrian Viceroy Gessler orders him to shoot an apple from his son’s head for refusing to bend the knee to Austrian authority.
“Once Tell’s family has been threatened, there is no turning back. Tell not only commits to joining the resistance but ends up leading the fight against the Austrian forces. Scarred by his own experience in the depravity and destitution of war during the Crusades, he comes to realize what matters most: his family and preserving his country’s independence for future generations.”
A major folk hero in Switzerland, William Tell’s exploits are the stuff of legend. A skilled marksman who lived in the early 14th century, he rose to prominence after refusing an order by local governor Albrecht Gessler to bow at his hat.
As a way of punishing Tell, Gessler ordered him to shoot an apple off of his son’s head with his crossbow, which he successfully did. However, the governor noticed Tell had prepared two belts. When asked why, he revealed he’d planned to turn the bow on Gessler if his son had been injured, leading to Tell’s arrest.
While en route to prison, Tell saves the governor’s life, only to assassinate him upon his escape from captivity. This small act of defiance spurred a rebellion against Austrian rule, a movement that’s credited with helping the push for Swiss independence.
Directed by Nick Hamm and starring Claes Bang, Connor Swindells, Jonah Hauer King and Ben Kingsley, William Tell was first announced in October 2023. At the time, the film was finishing shooting in Italy, with Hamm adapting Friedrich Schiller’s 1804 play for the script.
Speaking with Variety at the time, he shared, “As a filmmaker I couldn’t ask for a more exceptional cast to bring this story to life,” adding, “Tell’s story has a relevance and immediacy that is strikingly contemporary. The Apple Scene in particular has gripped the world’s imagination for hundreds of years and yet has never been dramatized in modern cinema.”
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William Tell was initially shown at both the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Zurich Film Festival. The movie is slated to premiere in theaters on January 10, 2025.
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