Oh dear. I can just picture the excitement of my partner in crime when he gets wind of this project.
The folks at Cinema Blend have uncovered some amazing footage from an upcoming film called The Red Baron. It starts Matthias Schweighöfer as the famed Red Baron, the ultimate ace fighter in WWI who falls in love with Käte (Lena Headey) and comes to realize that he is being used as a propaganda piece for the German government. I can’t quite figure out what role Joseph Fiennes plays in this whole saga which appears to be told from the German side of the action, but from his name, Captain Roy Brown, I assume that he’s an American pilot.
The real meat of this entire project is the dogfights. If you saw Flyboys expecting some great combat, you were likely disappointed by 1) the lack of fighting and 2) the budget FX. This time around, it looks like no expense was spared and this is easily the best air to air combat VFX work I’ve seen done since I first discovered The History Channel’s “Dogfights“.
Even in crummy YouTube resolution, it’s clear to see that this looks fantastic but it looks like it may be a while before we get to see the film. It was shot in English but completely funded by German production company Niama Film and currently it is only scheduled to open in Germany on April 10th. I expect that if the film does well in Germany, Warner Brothers will look to pick up international rights. And if they don’t, I hope someone else does because I want to see this on the big screen!
I’ve tucked the VFX dogfighting reel along with the German trailer under the seat. Be sure to check them out and let us know what you think.
German Trailer
Germans always sound angry. No matter what they’re saying. That being said, the trailer looks decent. Better than that atrocity “Flyboys.”
Either way, I heart Lena Headey.
Being interested in the dogfights of WWII and the Red Baron in particular, I have to say this looks like it could be worthwhile. It’s been a long time since a good dogfight movie…a category into which Flyboys wouldn’t fit…
@Andy
German does not sound ‘angry’ in general!
Anyway, looking forward to seeing this. 
New English, too telling, trailer care of Twitch:
Actually, Roy Brown was a Canadian (notice the maple leaf on the side of his airplane). The very idea that he and Von Richtofen ever met and chatted is preposterous, but the protrayal of the Baron is very novel. Most depictions of Von Richtofen are men in their late 30′s or 40′s, when in fact he and his pilots were mere boys. The dignity and bravery with which he faces what he knows to be his last flight is inspiring. The subtle looks of his men and his calmness for their sake trancends dialouge. If you have ever sttod with your family during waht may be your last time together before you leave for a combat tour, then you can truly understand what he must have felt during his long last glace at Kate. Unless you are dead you’d have to shed a tear for him as I did.
I hope to get a glimpse of Billy Bishop in the film. Yaa for Canadian Aces.
I saw this,and loved it. Matthias was spot on as the Baron. He’s a dead ringer for the Baron too,which is why the guy who was going to make the film picked him.Two years before he had funding for the film,he had cast Matthias,and took him with him to see the people he wanted to support making it.They saw him,and agreed that there was no one else who would play the role. Also,a relative thought he looked so much like Von Richthofen that when he saw Matthias in costume,he went up to him and said that he finally got to meet the Red Baron in person. They took a bit of artistic license on a few things in the movie(I wont tell you tho),..although it fits so well into the movie that it would feel a bit empty without them.
Just enjoy the film,and dont let anyone tell you that it’s junk,..cos it isnt.Find your own opinion about this hero of the Great War. It really sucks you in deep!!Clean till the end. I was sad that it ended.I didnt want it to be over.
**When Von Richthofen was killed,he was only 25 yers old.Such courage and strength for such a young one.Kids today are babies compared to the pilots of the Red Baron’s Flying Circus.All of those flyers were under 25,including his cousin and his little brother,who flew with him.
**You cant watch the whole film on Youtube! Its one long video.Not badly done either!
(sorry this was so long,but I was that impressed with the movie)
***I meant to say that you CAN watch it on Youtube.Sorry!