Peter Greenaway's Dustin Hoffman Film 'Lucca Mortis' Stuck in Post-Production Dispute
Peter Greenaway's film, now named Tower Stories, is still in post-production, three years after filming commenced in late 2023 in Lucca, Tuscany. Featuring Dustin Hoffman in the role of Jacob Zucchine, the project was produced by Facing East with a budget of €15 million, primarily funded by Jumpy Cow Pictures and supplemented by tax incentives from Italy and the Netherlands. Financial difficulties delayed the production's start until early 2024. A preliminary assembly was completed in late 2024, but disagreements emerged when producers reportedly edited a commercial version without Greenaway's approval. Currently, two incomplete cuts exist, and a dispute over rights is ongoing. Lucca councillor Remo Santini voiced his dissatisfaction over the lack of updates. Hoffman's portrayal is noted as moving, yet promotional efforts may be affected by the delays.
Key facts
- Filming on Peter Greenaway's Lucca Mortis began in Lucca, Tuscany, in late 2023.
- The film stars Dustin Hoffman as Jacob Zucchine, a New York writer seeking his Italian roots around 9/11.
- The budget was €15m, mainly financed by Jumpy Cow Pictures in Switzerland, with Italian and Dutch tax rebates.
- Production was delayed by cashflow problems; actors arrived and shooting started in early 2024.
- A first assembly was delivered in late 2024, but producers made a separate 'commercial' cut without Greenaway, despite his contract giving him final cut.
- Two incomplete versions exist, and a rights dispute continues; the film is now titled Tower Stories.
- Lucca councillor Remo Santini said the city is disappointed and has had no contact from the production since a sneak preview months ago.
- Greenaway is 84 and Hoffman turned 89 in August; delays raise concerns about promotion and festival acceptance.
Entities
Artists
- Peter Greenaway
- Dustin Hoffman
- Saskia Boddeke
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Ingmar Bergman
- Remo Santini
- Anne Bancroft
- Alan Howard
- Richard Bohringer
- Helen Mirren
- Michael Gambon
- Robbie Williams
- Liam Neeson
Institutions
- Facing East
- Jumpy Cow Pictures
- International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
- Tuschinski theatre
- Il Tirreno
- The Guardian
- NurPhoto
- Getty Images
- Variety
- Cinetext Bildarchiv
- Lawrence Turman
- Embassy
- Allstar
- Palace Pictures
- Sportsphoto
- Pictorial Press Ltd
- Alamy
Locations
- Lucca
- Italy
- Tuscany
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Madrid
- Spain
- New York
- US
- Rome
- Switzerland
- Los Angeles