Leonid Yarmolnik starred in both adaptations of the work by the Strugatsky brothers.

      On June 18, as part of the business program of the "Pilot" series festival in Ivanovo, the Internet Development Institute (ANO "IRI") presented the first nine minutes of the fantasy series "Hard to Be a God" (18+) for Wink (a joint venture of "Rostelecom" and NMG) and the NTV television channel, based on the eponymous novella by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

      More than two decades after the start of filming the eponymous film by Alexei German, the well-known actor Leonid Yarmolnik will appear in one of the roles in the new adaptation. He even suggested using the costume from the film for the new shoots.

      Leonid Yarmolnik, actor:

      "The novella 'Hard to Be a God' is a genius work by the Strugatsky brothers for all time, and today it remains relevant. Thirteen years ago, Alexei Yurievich German's film was released, where I played Don Rumata, and this was the hero as seen by German and me... Other times have come, and a new vision of this work has emerged. My role in the modern adaptation is symbolically significant: the new Rumata replaces the old one. This is how today's story begins."

      Dmitry Tyurin, director:

      "I grew up in the tradition of the Leningrad film school, so the names of German, Averbakh, and Aranovich have always been surrounded by a special aura for me. I walked the corridors of 'Lenfilm' when Alexei German was filming 'Hard to Be a God', saw these costumes, met Leonid Yarmolnik — all of this seemed part of an almost sacred world. Therefore, the symbolic transfer of the Rumata baton is, first of all, an act of self-irony and an attempt to diminish the significance of authorities. Without this, it is impossible to move forward."

      As previously announced, the role of Rumata in the series is played by Serbian actor Aleksandar Radojicic. Russian viewers know him from the film "Balkan Frontier." The main casting of the project includes Sergey Bezrukov, Victoria Isakova, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Nikita Kologrivyy, Fyodor Lavrov, Vladimir Yumadov, Nikolai Kozak, Nina Senikar, Irina Pautova, Lev Zulkarnayev, Ravshana Kurkova, Viktor Dobronravov, Artemiy Milgram, Ivan Agapov, Maria Denisova, Alexander Demidov, Boris Zverev, Konstantin Denisov, Danya Kiselev, Yana Sekste, Rano Kubaeva, Kamilla Valiullina, Alexander Mizev, and others.

      In the distant future, Earthlings help less developed civilizations overcome difficult stages of evolution. An employee of the Institute of History, Anton, travels to medieval Arkanar to save scientists capable of advancing evolution. He is to become Don Rumata Estorsky — a wealthy aristocrat who loves fights, drinking, and women. The main rule of the progressors is not to interfere directly in the natural course of history, helping a few enlighteners avoid destruction. But Anton has a personal interest that he has hidden from the institute. Somewhere here, in Arkanar, his father has gone missing...

      The series "Hard to Be a God" will join the Wink Originals lineup ("The Word of a Guy. Blood on the Asphalt" (18+), "Combination" (18+), "Fisher" (18+), "Lily of the Valley" (18+) and others). The premiere will take place exclusively on Wink, and later on the NTV television channel. The project is produced by "NMG Studio" and Team Films with the support of the Internet Development Institute (ANO "IRI").

      About the series "Hard to Be a God" (18+)

      Production: "NMG Studio" and Team Films with the support of the Internet Development Institute (ANO "IRI")

      Director: Dmitry Tyurin

      Director of Photography: Dmitry Karnachik

      Screenplay by: Andrey Zolotarev

      Showrunners: Andrey Zolotarev, Teymur Jafarov

      Producers from "NMG Studio": Fyodor Bondarchuk, Dmitry Tabarchuk

      Producers from Wink.ru: Anton Volodkin, Alexander Kosarim

      Producer from Team Films: Teymur Jafarov

      Producer from NTV: Timur Vainshtein

      Production Designer: Grigory Pushkin

      Costume Designer: Varvara Avdyushko

      Makeup Artist: Maria Antonchik

      Starring: Aleksandar Radojicic, Sergey Bezrukov, Victoria Isakova, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Nikita Kologrivyy, Fyodor Lavrov, Leonid Yarmolnik, Vladimir Yumadov, Nikolai Kozak, Nina Senikar, Irina Pautova, Lev Zulkarnayev, Ravshana Kurkova, Viktor Dobronravov, Artemiy Milgram, Ivan Agapov, Maria Denisova, Alexander Demidov, Boris Zverev, Konstantin Denisov, Danya Kiselev, Yana Sekste, Rano Kubaeva, Kamilla Valiullina, Alexander Mizev, and others.

      Photo provided by PJSC "Rostelecom."

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