Jonathan Rhys Meyers is set to take the lead role Shambhala, which is slated for fliming in late 2015 in India and Singapore.
Produced by the Singapore/Australian based production company Xeitgeist Entertainment Group and Singapore/Japan based Marcys Holdings, Shambhala follows the lone survivor of a plane crash, stranded in the mountains of Northern Pakistan.
The survivior is forced to deal with the trauma against the backdrop of an alien culture and language.
Unfolding non-chronologically, Shambhala is an emotional story of enlightenment and redemption.
Rhys Meyers will team up once again with the production team behind Damascus Cover: Huw Penallt Jones (Damascus Cover, The Man Who Knew Infinity, The Edge of Love, Cold Mountain, Chaos), Tayyab Madni (Associate Producer on The Man Who Knew Infinity) and Jomon Thomas (Damascus Cover, The Man Who Knew Infinity). Shambhala is written and will be directed by Summer Bodhi Nicks (Operation 021, Seedlings, Damaged).
Xeitgeist Entertainment Group chief executive and Producer of The Man Who Knew Infinity and Damascus Cover, said: “We've been working with Summer for years at Xeitgeist, he's a wonderfully creative mind.
"Shambhala is a provocative, moving story and we're very excited to be putting it into production," he said.
"The locations are challenging but really spectacular, Jonathan and the rest of the cast are going to help make this a spellbinding movie."
Producer, Huw Penallt Jones said Rhys Meyers would portray the character with unique skill.
"It's an affecting story, the landscapes will be stunning," he said.
"With Summer at the helm it's going to be a beautiful picture.”
Additional casting for the film includes the Australian/Indian actress Pallavi Sharda, who most recently starred opposite Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel in Lion.
Sharda started her film career in Bollywood and made a name for herself in the breakout hit My Name is Khan.
She also played the female lead in the Australian film, Save Your Legs!
Co-starring alongside Sharda will be English born actor Akshay Kumar who has completed Unlocked for director Michael Apted starring with Orlando Bloom, Michael Douglas and Noomi Rapace and the comedy romance One Crazy Thing. He also appeared in the hit US TV series Homeland.
Jomon Thomas also announced that London based Carnaby Sales & Distribution will be handling the international sales on Shambhala.
“We worked with Sean and his team at Carnaby on Damascus Cover and enjoy their enthusiasm and professionalism,” he said.
Carnaby International joint chief executive, Sean O’Kelly, said:
"We're excited to work with Xeitgeist on this unique project, I'm confident the final product will be spectacular."
Xeitgeist is an IP acquisitions and management company. Founded by Mark Montgomery and Jomon Thomas, Xeitgeist in association with its global partners links filmmakers and financiers for feature films, documentaries, TV series and new media productions.
Xeitgeist arranged funding and produced ‘The Man Who Know Infinity,’ with producer Edward R. Pressman, starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons, written and directed by Matt Brown, and ‘Damascus Cover’ starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, directed by Daniel Zelik Berk