The Portable Door
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Founder | Jeffrey Walker (director), Leon Ford (screenwriter) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Film |
| Parent | The Jim Henson Company, Story Bridge Films |
The Portable Door is a 2023 Australian film blending fantasy, adventure, and comedy, directed by Jeffrey Walker. The cast features Patrick Gibson, Sophie Wilde, Sam Neill, and Christoph Waltz. The screenplay, written by Leon Ford, is an adaptation of the 2003 novel which initiates Tom Holt's J.W. Wells & Co. series. This production was a collaboration between The Jim Henson Company and Story Bridge Films. It debuted in Australian cinemas on 23 March 2023 through Madman Entertainment, followed by streaming availability on Stan starting 7 April 2023.
Plot
Interns Paul Carpenter and Sophie Pettingel work at the mysterious London-based company J.W. Wells & Co., where they discover that their employers are disrupting the magical realm by imposing contemporary business methods onto age-old magic. The organization's covert objectives, driven by CEO Humphrey Wells and manager Dennis Tanner, pose a threat to established magical traditions.
Cast
- Patrick Gibson as Paul Carpenter
- Sophie Wilde as Sophie Pettingel
- Christoph Waltz as Humphrey Wells/John Wells Sr.
- Sam Neill as Dennis Tanner
- Miranda Otto as Countess Judy
- Rachel House as Nienke Van Spee
- Jessica De Gouw as Rosie Tanner
- Chris Pang as Casimir
- Damon Herriman as Monty Smith-Gregg
- Christopher Sommers as Arthur Tanner
- Arka Das as Neville
Production
Development of the film began in 2013 through a partnership between The Jim Henson Company and Story Bridge Films. In February 2020, Jeffrey Walker was confirmed to direct the adaptation of the first installment in Tom Holt's seven-book fantasy series, with Leon Ford penning the script and featuring actors such as Christoph Waltz and initially Guy Pearce. By May 2021, the cast had evolved to include Waltz, Sam Neill (who replaced Pearce), along with Patrick Gibson, Sophie Wilde, and Miranda Otto. Filming took place at Pinnacle Studios located on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The production was overseen by Blanca Lista representing The Jim Henson Company and Todd Fellman for Story Bridge Films.
Release
The Portable Door had its Australian theatrical release on 23 March 2023 through distribution by Madman Entertainment. It became available for streaming on 7 April 2023 within Australia on Stan, and in the United Kingdom via Sky Cinema and Now. The United States audience gained access on 8 April 2023 through the platform MGM+.
Reception
According to the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the motion picture has garnered an approval rating of 81% based on evaluations from 16 critics.
Accolades
The film's score, composed by Benjamin Speed, earned the Feature Film Score of the Year award at Australia's 2023 Screen Music Awards.