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Films, animation and Video director

ED Restino

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LLEWELYN

Based in true facts

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LLEWELYN - (Longbow)   (Working Title)

The Feature FILM Screenplay by Lynn John - Directed by Edilberto Restino

 

The Welsh Braveheart - the true story of warrior Prince, Llewelyn the Great, Joan, daughter of King John of England  and Ednyfed, the warrior, precursor of the Tudor dynasty, that came back from the 6th crusades converted to a new order, a mix between Christianity and the Islam.

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🎬 LLEWELYN - (LONGBOW)

Genre: Historical Epic / Romance / War Drama
Setting: 13th Century Wales and England
Based on a True Story

Logline

In war-torn medieval Wales, a forbidden love between a Welsh prince and the illegitimate daughter of his enemy — the ruthless King John of England — ignites an epic saga of passion, betrayal, and redemption that will shape the birth of a nation. No one would aspect what came next, Llewelyn’s forgiveness for the greater good of his people and the country.

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The Pitch

LLEWELYN - (LONGBOW) is a sweeping historical epic — a love story set against the clash of kingdoms. It’s Braveheart meets The Other Boleyn Girl — an emotionally charged tale of two lovers caught between power and passion, politics and forgiveness.

At its heart:

  • Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, the brilliant, charismatic Prince of Wales — a warrior determined to unite his people.

  • Joan, his young, beautiful wife — the illegitimate daughter of King John of England, the man who will stop at nothing to destroy him.

Their union, born of politics, becomes a deep and defiant love that challenges empires. But when war, betrayal, and scandal threaten to tear them apart, one act of unimaginable forgiveness will change history — and define the soul of Wales.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“History is written by those who win wars. But the soul of a nation is shaped by those who forgive.”

When I first read the true story of Llewelyn and Joan, I was struck not by the politics or the battles, but by the courage of forgiveness.
Here was a warrior prince — a man who could command armies — yet his greatest act of strength was mercy.
That paradox is the heart of LLEWELYN - (LONGBOW).

This film is about the impossible choices love demands — between loyalty and passion, duty and self, vengeance and grace.
It’s about how a single act of compassion can echo through centuries, transforming weakness into legend.

My vision as a director is to strip away the myth and show the humanity:

  • The trembling hands behind royal decrees.

  • The silences between lovers who know they’ve crossed lines they can’t uncross.

  • The way a fog-laced Welsh valley feels before a battle — beautiful, terrible, inevitable.

I want audiences to feel this world — the wind off the mountains, the weight of armor, the ache of loss — and to walk out believing that love, even in its most flawed form, is worth fighting for.

LLEWELYN - (LONGBOW) will be powerful, sensual, tragic, and ultimately redemptive.
It’s not a story about kings and wars — it’s a story about people who dared to forgive in a world built on revenge.

Synopsis

To secure peace, King John weds his illegitimate daughter, Joan, to his sworn enemy, Prince Llewelyn of Wales. What begins as a calculated political alliance blossoms into genuine love and respect — a bond that unites Wales under Llewelyn’s leadership for the first time in history.

But John cannot abide Welsh independence. Twice, his armies invade. Castles burn. Innocents hang. As war rages, Joan is torn between her loyalty to her father and her love for her husband.

Then, in a moment of weakness and longing, she yields to the charm of William de Braose, a young English noble. Llewelyn’s discovery of the affair threatens everything — her children, her crown, and her life. William is hanged. Joan is exiled in disgrace.

And yet, after months of silence, Llewelyn defies every code of vengeance and pride. In a stunning act of love, he forgives Joan — restoring her as his consort, publicly and without apology. His decision unites his people, defies his enemies, and cements his legend.

It really happened.

Themes & Tone

  • Love & Betrayal: The clash of passion and politics.

  • War & Nationhood: The forging of Wales from blood and courage.

  • Forgiveness & Power: How mercy can be the ultimate act of strength.

Visually rich and emotionally raw, LONGBOW combines the sweeping grandeur of Gladiator and Braveheart with the intimacy and complexity of The Crown.

Visual Style

  • Epic battle sequences set amid the mountains and castles of Wales.

  • Lush, cinematic landscapes contrasting with the dark intrigue of royal courts.

  • Authentic medieval detail paired with modern emotional intensity.

  • A timeless score blending Welsh choral traditions with orchestral power.

Market Potential

  • True stories with epic scale and emotional core (The Last Kingdom, Outlaw King, Bridgerton) have proven global appeal.

  • Strong female lead and romantic hook broaden audience reach beyond traditional historical war dramas.

  • Built-in Welsh and UK cultural heritage angle ideal for public/private co-production or streaming platform acquisition.

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The Longbow - the most lethal weapon of the Middle Ages, that decimated armies was originally a Welsh design.

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CHARACTERS:

LLEWELYN ap IORWERTH — The Prince of Wales

Early 30s–40s. Charismatic, intelligent, and fierce — a born leader who dreams of a united Wales. Beneath the warrior exterior lies a man of deep compassion and moral conviction. His love for Joan humanizes him, while his forgiveness defines him. A complex hero whose strength lies not only in battle, but in mercy.
Comparable to: Russell Crowe’s Maximus (Gladiator), Daniel Day-Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans, Richard Madden in The Last Kingdom.

JOAN (Joanna) — The Princess of Wales

Mid-20s. The illegitimate daughter of King John, caught between two worlds — English by birth, Welsh by marriage. Intelligent, passionate, and independent, Joan begins as a pawn in her father’s political game but grows into a woman of conscience and courage. Her affair and redemption are the emotional center of the film — a portrait of human frailty and grace.
Comparable to: Keira Knightley in The Duchess, Florence Pugh in Lady Macbeth, Alicia Vikander in The Danish Girl.

KING JOHN of ENGLAND — The Tyrant Father

Late 40s–50s. Ruthless, manipulative, and tormented by paranoia. A man who wields power like a weapon — and uses his daughter as a pawn. His cruelty toward Wales is matched only by his obsession with control. Yet, his humanity flickers through his relationships, making him a terrifyingly real antagonist.
Comparable to: Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator, Jared Harris in The Crown.

 

EDNYFED - Knight/Crusader

Llewelyn’s marshal, lifetime friend, and founder of the Tudor dynasty

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AL KAMIL - The great

Famed Saracen leader and brother of Saladin

WILLIAM de BRAOSE — The Tempter

Mid-20s. Handsome, charming, and reckless — the embodiment of youth and temptation. His affair with Joan is both romantic and catastrophic, sparking a chain of events that tests the limits of love and forgiveness.
Comparable to: Harry Styles in My Policeman, Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Anna Karenina.

GWENLLIAN — The Daughter

A young princess born of both England and Wales. Her existence symbolizes the hope of a united future — the legacy of her parents’ love and the promise of peace.

🎨 VISUAL MOOD & TONE

  • Cinematic Scope: Expansive mountain vistas, mist-shrouded castles, and roaring battles evoke the grandeur of Braveheart and Gladiator.

  • Intimate Emotion: Close, candlelit interiors highlight human vulnerability — reminiscent of Atonement or The Crown.

  • Color Palette:

    • Wales: Emerald greens, stormy grays, and golden light — nature’s power and resilience.

    • England: Cold stone, steel blue, and crimson — the color of authority, sin, and blood.

  • Camera Style: Sweeping drone shots of landscapes juxtaposed with handheld intimacy during emotional moments.

  • Tone: Poetic and visceral — a balance between historical authenticity and timeless human drama.

🎞️ COMPARABLE TITLES

Film / Series                                Studio / Platform                                          Relevance

Braveheart                               Paramount / Icon                                             Epic scope, national identity, rebellion, love amid war

The Last Kingdom                   Netflix                                                               Welsh-English conflict, grounded medieval realism

The Other Boleyn Girl              Sony                                                                Political marriage, forbidden passion, royal scandal

Outlaw King                             Netflix                                                              True historical drama, redemption through war

The Crown                               Netflix                                                              Emotional and political tension in royal relationships

​The Kingdom of Heaven          Netflix                                                              Crusader's war historical action drama

Production Overview

  • Format: Feature Film (120–130 mins) or Limited Series (6–8 episodes)

  • Genre: Historical Epic / Romance / Political Drama

  • Estimated Budget: $15–25M (Feature) | $25–40M (Series)

  • Locations: Wales & England (Snowdonia, Conwy, Pembrokeshire) with potential Eastern European co-production for large-scale battle sequences

  • Visual Tone: Gritty realism meets lyrical romanticism — cinematic landscapes, intimate interiors, and powerful battle choreography

Financing & Incentives

  • Eligible for UK Film Tax Relief (up to 25%) and Creative Wales funding

  • Co-production potential with European and US partners

  • Private equity, pre-sales, and streamer partnership opportunities (Netflix, Amazon, Sky, BBC)

  • Strong heritage and tourism tie-ins with Welsh cultural organizations and historical sites

Why Invest

  • True Story Appeal: A real historical love story with emotional and political resonance

  • Global Audience: English-language epic with universal themes of love, power, and forgiveness

  • Awards & Festival Potential: Rich material for top-tier talent and international recognition

  • Commercial Viability: Proven audience demand for high-quality historical drama

  • Cultural Endorsement: Deep ties to Welsh history and identity, adding authenticity and prestige​

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🎥 PRODUCTION VISION

THE PRODUCTION VISION

LLEWELYN (LONGBOW) will be a sweeping, emotionally charged historical epic — grounded in truth, alive with passion, and cinematic in scope.
Our vision is to create a film that captures the raw humanity behind the history: the politics, the battles, and most of all, the beating hearts at their center.

This is not just a costume drama, but a story of modern emotional relevance — love and forgiveness in an age of brutality.
Through a combination of intimate storytelling and large-scale cinematic spectacle, LONGBOW will transport audiences into the medieval world of 13th-century Wales and England with authenticity and immediacy.

Visually, the film will be bold, lyrical, and immersive:

  • Landscape as character: The wild, untamed beauty of Wales — mist, mountains, and stone — becomes a metaphor for resilience and identity.

  • Battle sequences: Real, tactile, and character-driven. Less about spectacle, more about survival and purpose.

  • Lighting & texture: Natural light, torchlight, and rain — a painterly realism inspired by Caravaggio and the works of Ridley Scott and Terrence Malick.

  • Sound & music: A haunting fusion of traditional Welsh choral voices and modern orchestration, underscoring the timeless emotional pulse of the story.

The result: a film that feels epic in scale but intimate in soul.
It will live where “Braveheart” meets “Atonement” — visceral, tragic, and deeply human.

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Financing & Production Overview

Scale and Vision

LLEWELYN - (LONGBOW) is conceived as a prestige historical epic in the vein of Braveheart, Elizabeth, and The Last Kingdom, blending sweeping battle sequences with intimate, character-driven drama. With its strong historical foundation and emotional resonance, the film is designed for both theatrical release and streaming platform acquisition.
The visual and production scope supports either:

·       A feature film (120–130 min), or

·       A limited series (6–8 episodes) adaptation, depending on financing strategy and partner involvement.

Locations

Principal photography will take place in:

·       Wales – Snowdonia, Conwy, Gwynedd, and Pembrokeshire, for authentic medieval castles and rugged landscapes.

·       England – Historic fortifications and royal interiors (e.g., Dover, Winchester, Alnwick) for the English court sequences.

·       Potential co-production shooting in Eastern Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic, or Romania) for cost-effective large-scale battle and village reconstructions, depending on budget alignment and tax incentives.

Estimated Budget Range

Depending on final creative approach and format:

·       Feature Film: USD $15–25 million

·       Limited Series: USD $25–40 million (6–8 hours total runtime)

The budget allows for:

·       High production value (period costumes, castles, battle set pieces)

·       International cast

·       Top-tier cinematography and score

·       Location authenticity and VFX support for historical recreation

Financing Structure

LLEWELYN - (LONGBOW) is structured for international co-production and financing, leveraging:

·       UK and Welsh Government incentives, including the UK Film Tax Relief (up to 25%) and Creative Wales funding.

·       European co-production treaties (UK–Ireland, UK–France, UK–Czech Republic, etc.)

·       Private equity investment, gap financing, and presales (especially to streamers with a focus on historical drama, e.g. Netflix, Amazon, or Sky).

·       Potential public broadcaster partnership (BBC, S4C, or ITVX) for UK exposure.

Co-Production Potential

The project is ideally positioned for:

·       UK–EU co-production through European funding bodies such as Eurimages.

·       US/UK partnership to attract American investment and distribution, leveraging the film’s strong English-language script and universal themes.

·       Collaboration with Welsh production partners for authenticity, locations, and cultural endorsement.

Given the true historical narrative of Welsh unification and Anglo-Welsh conflict, LLEWELYN - (LONGBOW) also offers rich potential for educational, tourism, and heritage tie-ins through Welsh historical sites and cultural institutions.

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