MILAN — Husband-and-wife duo, Australians Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, have a knack for bringing the past to life through their unique vivid lens. Now the sort of magic they conjured in the creation of films like “Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge” and “The Great Gatsby” is finally coming to Britain’s rail system.

On Tuesday, Belmond, the luxury travel company and brand owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, told WWD that it is gearing up to unveil Celia, a new private dining and events carriage within the British Pullman, a Belmond Train, England.

Cinematic interior designs, in a symphony of red velvet and British floral motifs, have been envisaged by film director Luhrmann and Martin, the Oscar-winning costume and production designer. The car will be unveiled this summer. Japanese illustrator Yukiko Noritake worked with the couple, bringing their artistic vision to life via otherworldly illustrations, which were also shared with WWD on Tuesday.

A Cinematic Respite

“Onboard I imagine people eating, dancing and falling in love, taking photographs, celebrating life’s great moments and adventures — all within a world that offers a pause from the chaos of everyday life. Celia offers a moment of respite. A moment of celebration. A small, luminous bubble of light and love,” Martin said in a statement.

Set within an original 1932 Pullman carriage, Celia will be able to accommodate 12 guests and will operate as an entirely self-contained private carriage, featuring its own cocktail bar, lounge, dining and entertainment space, dedicated stewards, and the option for a private chef to create bespoke menus using fine seasonal British produce. Prices for exclusive use of Celia start at 15,000 pounds.

Belmond said that the designs were inspired by “London’s 1930s West End theater scene, vintage cinema, and the romance and fantasy of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’” The overall aim of the project was to create a cinematic experience, Belmond said.

At the heart of Luhrmann’s artistic design is a fictional muse, which was derived from his imagination. In a statement, Luhrmann explained that the transportation project challenged the couple in unexpected ways. “Stepping inside the carriage is like being transported into another world, and one in which guests are invited to become part of the story. Celia, at its heart, is a magical mystery tour — a traveling dining experience for friends or an intimate celebration, filled with food, music, wine, laughter and performance,” Luhrmann reflected.

Incorporating British Artisanal Excellence

Together the couple worked hard to select the right partners, artisans and brands for the interiors of the carriage.

For the design, Martin worked with long-term Belmond collaborators including marquetry artisans Dunn & Son, leading British bespoke furniture designer Bill Cleyndert, as well as Tony Sandles Bespoke Glass studio, embroiders Hand and Lock, and J.K. Interiors.

Historic British manufacturer of fine bone china, Duchess China, collaborated with the designer on the tableware look and feel. Martin has also handpicked British suppliers for the carriage’s food and beverage elements, including David Mellor for the cutlery and Tom Dixon for the glassware.

The Age of Slow Travel

Belmond has been among the companies pioneering the ongoing age of slow travel since 1982, when it began operating the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

In a post-COVID-19 pandemic era, its inventive rail tours have come to the fore for taking passengers back to the heyday of travel’s Golden Age.

Belmond’s British Pullman, a Belmond Train, England runs from February to December and features 10 restored 1920s and ’30s carriages. The train experiences combine Art Deco interiors with decadent dining, and scenic daily excursions to cities such as Oxford, Canterbury and Bath, visits to historic houses such as Blenheim Palace and Highclere Castle, and trips to world-class sporting events such as Goodwood Revival and the Grand National.

In 2021, the group unveiled the Cygnus carriage, which was entirely designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson.