The film’s producer Paul Breuls confirmed that the international cast includes Brody (Grand Hotel Budapest, The Pianist) in the main role of the strategist and Roman emperor Charles V,  along with the popular new British actress Sophie Cookson, Paz Vega, Gotz Otto, Bill Skarsgard, Thomas Kretschmann, Oliver Platt and Rutger Hauer.

Emperor tracks the journey of a wild and bold 21-year-old Johanna, who reaches the Court of the Roman Emperor Charles V to avenge the death of her beloved father.

“Principal photography in the Czech Republic begins 1 September and the shooting will go on for 2 months. The total anticipated spent in the Czech Republic is 300 million CZK (10.8 million EUR); the incentive for this project allocated by the Czech State Cinematography Fund is 74 million CZK (2.6 million EUR),”said Ludmila Claussova from the Czech Film Commission. The film will also be shot in Belgium.

The UNESCO heritage castle area of the Czech city of Cesky Krumlov will be transformed into a German medieval town with a big marketplace populated by 250 extras, 20 horses, sheep, hens and ducks.

The Czech executive producer is Film United (Borgia). Foreign sales is handled by Corsano World Sales.