Esther McGregor and Mark Eydelshteyn to Star as Gerda Taro and Robert Capa in Charlotte Colbert’s ‘Becoming Capa’
Esther McGregor and Mark Eydelshteyn are set to lead Becoming Capa, a biographical drama centered on pioneering war photographers Gerda Taro and Robert Capa. The film, written and directed by Charlotte Colbert, has wrapped production after filming on location in Bilbao, Madrid, and Paris, and is now in post-production in London.
The project marks Eydelshteyn’s first English-language role following his breakout performance in Anora, the Palme d’Or winner directed by Sean Baker that went on to secure multiple Academy Awards. McGregor, whose recent credits include Babygirl and The Room Next Door, continues a steady rise with the leading role of Taro.
Described by producers as a story of love and defiance set against mounting political unrest, Becoming Capa traces the personal and professional partnership between Taro and Capa, two photographers whose work came to define modern war reportage. The couple’s images from the Spanish Civil War and other 1930s conflicts reshaped visual journalism, embedding urgency and proximity into frontline photography. Taro, often overshadowed historically by Capa, is widely regarded as one of the first female photojournalists to cover combat from the battlefield.
Alongside McGregor and Eydelshteyn, the ensemble cast includes Emily Carey, William Gao, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Rossy de Palma, as well as Mathieu Demy, Bruno Gouery, Clémence Poésy, and Danny Huston. The production brings together a multinational team, reflecting the cross-European trajectory of its protagonists.
Behind the camera, Colbert has assembled an experienced creative group. Oscar-winning production designer Eugenio Caballero, known for his work on Pan’s Labyrinth and Roma, leads the film’s visual world-building. Cinematography is handled by Pawel Pogorzelski, whose previous collaborations include HereditaryMidsommar. The makeup department is overseen by Academy Award winner Stephanie Guillon, and editing is led by Sam Sneade.
Production is anchored by Andrea Cornwell of Lobo Films, Chris Curling of Zephyr Films, and veteran British producer Jeremy Thomas through Recorded Picture Company. Thomas is best known for producing The Last Emperor and for long-standing collaborations with directors such as David Cronenberg and Stephen Frears.
Colbert made her feature debut with She Will, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and earned the Golden Leopard for best debut. Her background as a visual artist with work exhibited at institutions including the V&A and Art Basel suggests that Becoming Capa may lean heavily into atmosphere and aesthetic composition, fitting for a story about photographers whose lives were shaped by images.
The film is co-produced by Morena Films in Spain and Opal Films in France, underscoring its European production footprint. While plot specifics remain under wraps, the narrative is expected to explore both the romance and the professional rivalry that defined Taro and Capa’s partnership, set against the rise of fascism and the turbulence of pre–World War II Europe.
With production complete and post underway in London, Becoming Capa positions itself as a period drama rooted in artistic ambition and political upheaval. For Eydelshteyn, it represents a strategic move into English-language cinema. For McGregor, it offers the opportunity to foreground the legacy of a figure whose contribution to war photography has often been relegated to footnotes.
As interest in historical biopics remains strong across international markets, the film arrives with both an awards-season pedigree behind the scenes and rising talent in front of the camera.
