Acclaimed Irish filmmaker Jim Sheridan will direct King of the Wind, an equestrian epic about an 18th century Arabian colt that would go on to sire the modern thoroughbred bloodline. The film will be produced by Alan Moloney and Gary Levinsohn, adapted by Sheridan from Marguerite Henry’s novel.
King of the Wind will retrace the path of the so-called ‘Darley stallion’ from the stables of the Moroccan sultan through to the courts of England and France.
Sheridan is aiming to shoot the film in the Middle East and North Africa, and scouting will begin early in 2025.
Sheridan said: “It’s very hard to humanize or to actualize an animal. I’m looking to make an animal human in a way, trying to access [it as you would an actor]. I’m very fascinated with trying to do that. Why? I don’t know.”
Sheridan has recently wrapped production on Re-creation, starring Vicky Krieps and Colm Meaney, which is due to premiere in 2025. He is also due to start production on Into Africa and Out, a semi-autobiographical road movie he is co-writing with his partner, director Zahara Moufid. This intimate dramedy will follow a father and daughter travelling from Ireland to Morocco, “exploring the complexities of kinfolk with hope and heartache".
Sheridan and Moufid said: “The aim is to create a film that balances humor with the profound realities of family dynamics, responsibility, and the unique bond between a father and daughter. [And this] is also a story of a new Ireland, featuring a journey that bypasses England and America in search of new hope in a fresh landscape.”
Sheridan and Moufid are also preparing to co-direct Hiba, described as a ‘family tale about class tensions and star-crossed love’ based on Moufid’s own childhood in Morocco.
