Nobel Prize-Winning Philosopher Bertrand Russell Biopic in Development

A feature film chronicling the life of Bertrand Russell is moving forward, marking the first theatrical biopic about the British philosopher who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 for his varied and significant writings championing humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.

Russell’s remarkable life and career — spanning nearly a century from 1872 to 1970 — established him as a pioneering figure in analytic philosophy and one of the 20th century’s foremost logicians. Beyond his groundbreaking work in mathematics, logic and philosophy, he became a tireless advocate for peace and social justice.

The philosopher has previously been explored on television, most notably in Will Pascoe’s 2008 documentary “The Three Passions of Bertrand Russell,” which featured contributions from Noam Chomsky and Vivienne Westwood. However, this marks Russell’s first narrative feature treatment. Apart from several TV shows, Russell appeared in the 1967 Indian film “Aman” (Peace) as himself.

Danish-Chinese filmmaker and scholar Amanda Renai Curdt-Christiansen is penning the screenplay as part of her practice-based PhD research at the U.K.’s De Montfort University. The project has secured backing from the U.K.’s Arts and Humanities Research Council and is being developed alongside the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation.

“Our appetite for true, meaningful, and inspiring stories is growing globally, no doubt exacerbated by the current political climate,” said Curdt-Christiansen. “Russell’s message is important, and his story has the potential to resonate with audiences from London to Beijing.”

The filmmakers view Russell’s commitment to pacifism, opposition to imperialism, and humanitarian principles as particularly resonant today. His nearly century-long life witnessed world wars, social upheaval and political transformation across multiple continents — providing rich dramatic territory for a film with international appeal.

Currently in development, the project will incorporate materials from the Peace Foundation’s archives alongside expert consultations and research into Chinese market dynamics and audience preferences. This cross-cultural approach reflects the team’s ambition to foster East Asian co-production opportunities.

Curdt-Christiansen’s multicultural background positions her uniquely for the endeavor. She speaks English, Mandarin, French and Danish, and has built her career across continents, having lived and worked in Singapore, Canada, France, China, Denmark and the U.K.. Her credits span film curation (Cinemateket, Copenhagen Short Film Festival), educational programming (CPH:DOX, National Film School of Denmark), and production work with companies including SAM Productions and Beo Post. She has also directed independent short films with support from Danish Film Directors, Danish Actors’ Association and Filmværkstedet Copenhagen.

Hiu Man Chan, who supervises the project at De Montfort University and U.K.-China Film Collab, said, “The funding model for this film project development is unique and one of its kind. I hope this alternative collaboration can shed light on new imagination for independent filmmakers.”

Tony Simpson, managing director of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, added: “Bertrand Russell revered people’s creative impulses. This project will act as a bridge between our extensive archives, our independent scholarship, and the creative industries.”