Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) adapted the screenplay from McEwan's critically acclaimed novel. The film reunites the star and director of 2005's Pride & Prejudice, which earned Knightley a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role as Elizabeth Bennet. The film also earned an additional three Academy Award nominations: Costume Design, Art Direction, and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures.
Atonement follows Briony Tallis (newcomer Saoirse Ronan) who, as a 13-year-old, forever changes the lives of her sister (Knightley) and her sister's lover (McAvoy) when she accuses her sister's lover of a crime he didn't commit.
Filming will take place in Shropshire, London, Grimsby, and the Teesside town of Redcar.
Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster are producing Atonement. Focus Features will distribute Atonement in the United States. Universal Pictures International holds the rights to distribute the film in all other territories.
Source: Focus Features
