Production Begins on Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette

Production begins this week on Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, about France's iconic eighteenth century Queen. The Columbia Pictures release is produced by two-time Academy Award® nominee Ross Katz, through American Zoetrope. In addition to serving as director, Coppola is also one of the film's producers and has written the screenplay, which is loosely adapted from Lady Antonia Fraser's noted historical account Marie Antoinette - The Journey. Fred Roos, Francis Ford Coppola and Paul Rassam serve as executive producers.

Kirsten Dunst, who previously appeared in Coppola's drama The Virgin Suicides, portrays the young Austrian princess, who, as a teenager, becomes Queen of France. Jason Schwartzman portrays her indifferent husband Louis XVI.

Other members of the ensemble, portraying various members of the elitist court of Versailles include Rip Torn (in the role of King Louis XV), Judy Davis (as the Comtesse de Noailles), Steve Coogan (as Mercy), Asia Argento (playing the Comtesse du Barry), Marianne Faithful (Maria-Teresa), Aurore Clement (Duchesse de Chartres), Molly Shannon (Aunt Victoire) and Shirley Henderson (Aunt Sophie).

The director of photography for Marie Antoinette is Lance Acord, who previously collaborated with Coppola on Lost in Translation. Oscar® winner Milena Canonero (A Clockwork Orange, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) is designing the costumes and KK Barrett (Lost in Translation, I Heart Huckabees, Being John Malkovich) is the production designer.

Marie Antoinette will be shot entirely in France, with much of the 11-week production schedule centered at the Palace of Versailles, which has granted the production unprecedented access.

Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute throughout most of the world with Pricel and Tohokushinsha handling the territories of France and Japan, respectively.

About Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/ .

   Contact:
   Steve Elzer
   Senior Vice President, Media Relations
   Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
   (310) 244-7142
   steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

   Natalie Johnson
   Sony Pictures
   (310) 244-3236
   Natalie_Johnson@spe.sony.com

   Kari Tejerian
   Sony Pictures
   (310) 244-5128
   Kari_Tejerian@spe.sony.com

   Press Contact (France):
   Laurence Granec/Karine Menard
   01 47 20 36 66
   lgranec@club-internet.fr

SOURCE: Columbia Pictures

CONTACT: Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations of
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, +1-310-244-7142,
or steve_elzer@spe.sony.com ; or Natalie Johnson, +1-310-244-3236, or
Natalie_Johnson@spe.sony.com , or Kari Tejerian, +1-310-244-5128, or
Kari_Tejerian@spe.sony.com , both of Sony Pictures ; or France, Laurence
Granec, lgranec@club-internet.fr , or Karine Menard, for Columbia Pictures,
01 47 20 36 66

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/