Who is the Phantom of the Open?

Entertainment One (eOne) are pleased to share the first trailer and poster for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN.

The Phantom of the Open will have its WORLD PREMIERE at the London Film Festival on October 12th. The film is directed by filmmaker and BAFTA® Cymru Award winning actor Craig Roberts, from a screenplay by BAFTA winning writer, Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2). Farnaby adapted the script from his own book “The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, The World’s Worst Golfer”, co-written by Scott Murray.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN tells the remarkable true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator and optimistic dreamer from Barrow-in-Furness who, with the support of his family and friends, managed to gain entry to the 1976 British Open qualifying, despite never playing a round of golf before. With pluckiness and unwavering self-belief, Maurice pulls off a series of stunning, hilarious and heartwarming attempts to compete at the highest level of professional golf, drawing the ire of the golfing elite but becoming a British folk hero in the process.

Starring Academy Award® Winner Mark Rylance as Maurice, Academy Award® Nominee Sally Hawkins as his wife Jean and BAFTA nominee Rhys Ifans as his nemesis Mackenzie. The extraordinary story of an ordinary man, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN is an uplifting and moving comedy drama about pursuing your dreams and shooting for the stars, no matter what hand you’re dealt.

The film is a co-production between Water & Power Productions and Baby Cow Productions, and is produced by Kate Glover, Nichola Martin, and Tom Miller. Executive producers are Christine Langan and James Swarbrick together with Cornerstone Films’ Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder, Ingenious Media’s Peter Touche and Christelle Conan, Mary Burke for the BFI and BBC Film’s Rose Garnett and Emma Duffy. The film was developed by the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery, and BBC Film. Funding came from the BFI, BBC Film and Ingenious Media.