Martin Scorsese directs First 3D film "Hugo Cabret"

CEBU, Philippines - Production has begun in London on Academy Award-winner Martin Scorsese’s adventure film “Hugo Cabret.” The live-action film, to be photographed in 3D, stars Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley (“Shutter Island”), Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat”), Asa Butterfield (“The Boy in Striped Pajamas”), and Chloe Moretz (“Kick-Ass”).

Also appearing in the all-star cast are Jude Law (“Sherlock Holmes”), Ray Winstone (“Beowulf”) and Christopher Lee (“Lord of the Rings”).

Based on Brian Selznick’s captivating and imaginative New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the screenplay is by John Logan and the film is produced by Scorsese, Graham King, Tim Headington, and Johnny Depp.

Executive producers are Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Charles Newirth and Christi Dembrowski.

“Hugo Cabret,” Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D, tells the tale of Hugo (Butterfield), an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station.   When Hugo encounters a broken machine, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs the toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy.

“Hugo Cabret” re-teams Scorsese, King, and Logan, all of whom worked together on “The Aviator.” It also reunites Scorsese with several of his longtime collaborators, including director of photography Robert Richardson (“Inglourious Basterds”), production designer Dante Ferretti (“Sweeney Todd”), costume designer Sandy Powell (“The Young Victoria”), and editor Thelma Schoonmaker (“The Departed”), all multiple-time Oscar winners, as well as casting director Ellen Lewis (“The Aviator”).

GK Films acquired the screen rights to The Invention of Hugo Cabret shortly after the book was published by Scholastic Press in 2007 and immediately became the #1 New York Times best-selling novel. The ground-breaking book was universally praised by critics and received several literary awards, including the coveted 2008 Caldecott Medal. It was a National Book Award finalist and was named the New York Times’ Best Illustrated book, among many other honors.

“Hugo Cabret” will be filmed at London’s Shepperton Studios as well as on locations in London and Paris. It is scheduled for a December 2011 release in North America and in the Philippines soon after.

“Hugo Cabret” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and like the fanpage to get the latest movie news, video clips and contests.