Daisy Ridley has signed to star in and executive produce Emmy-nominated filmmaker Eloise Singer’s VR experience Trailblazer bringing to light the untold story of German automobile pioneer Bertha Benz.
Set in Germany in 1888, Trailblazer tells the true story of Bertha Benz, the wife of Karl Benz, inventor of the Motorwagen. While Karl struggled with self-doubt, Bertha took his invention and embarked on a daring 120-kilometre journey.
The immersive narrative celebrates the visionary pioneer who defied societal norms, inviting audiences to step into her shoes; explore her workshop, assembling the revolutionary engine, and follow a journey that reshaped transportation forever.
News of Ridley’s involvement in Trailblazer comes hot on the heels of an update on Rise of Skywalker sequel, in which the actress is set to reprise her Star Wars sequel trilogy role of Rey.
“Bertha’s determination and courage are incredibly inspiring,” said Ridley. “It’s been such a privilege to step into her world and help tell her story. I hope audiences are as moved by her journey as I was while working on this project.”
The production has also revealed that BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated Lesley Paterson (All Quiet on the Western Front) has boarded as executive producer alongside Ridley, and Singer, who works under the banner of Singer Studios.
Trailblazer will premiere on March 7 on Meta Quest 2 and Meta, with plans underway to expand the franchise into a graphic novel series created by Singer Studios and a feature film, executive produced by Singer, Paterson and Ridley.
The immersive work follows Singer’s Emmy-nominated VR game The Pirate Queen, featuring Lucy Liu in the voice role of legendary 19th South China Sea pirate Cheng Shih.
“Bertha’s story struck a chord with me the moment I first read about her,” said Singer of her interest in Benz.
“This wasn’t just a test drive of the world’s first car; it was a daring statement about innovation and tenacity which changed the course of history. She believed in the impossible and made it happen, even when the odds were against her.”
The evolving project premiered at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival before going on to screen at SXSW and Sheffield Doc Fest in 2023, prior to Ridley’s involvement.
