On Chesil Beach (film)

On Chesil Beach is an upcoming British drama film directed by Dominic Cooke in his motion picture directorial debut. Ian McEwan self-adapted his own 2007 Booker Prize-nominated novella of the same name. It stars Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle. The film is scheduled to be released in late 2017 or early 2018.

In 2010, Sam Mendes had signed on to direct the film with Focus Features developing. Carey Mulligan was in talks to star as Florence Ponting. But shooting was delayed when Mendes' Skyfall went into production and Focus Features pulled out of development. In 2011, the film went back in to pre-production, this time with Mike Newell directing and Sam Mendes producing through his Neal Street Productions banner with StudioCanal and BBC Films. Later, production ceased after pre-production over-ran and the producers got cold feet.

In February 2016, it was announced that Saoirse Ronan was to play Florence Ponting.Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley produced the film under their Number 9 Films banner. In May 2016, during the Cannes Film Festival, it was announced that BBC Films would co-produce the film. In August 2016, Billy Howle joined the cast as the male lead. In October 2016, it was announced that Thorsten Schumacher's new film and TV outfit Rocket Science had come on board to complete international sales.

Principal photography began on 17 October 2016 on Chesil Beach, Dorset, England. Other filming locations included London, Oxford and Pinewood Studios in England.