Ed Zwick, who last brought the world romantic comedy drama Love & Other Drugs is switching back to his other favourite genre, historical epic, for his next film.** The Great Wall** will be set around the building of China’s most famous architectural work and already features Henry Cavill in a lead role. He’s now got a co-leading man in the shape of Benjamin Walker.
With word on Walker’s casting also arrives some new information about the plot. Zwick’s script finds a group of British warriors in 15th century China arriving at the wall as it's being hurriedly constructed. Turns out the rush isn’t just because Mongols have been giving the Chinese soldiers problems. It’s because nightfall brings something much more dangerous. And far more otherworldly…
The men aren't the only pieces of casting announced for the film, as Deadline reports that Zhang Ziyi is also under consideration along with some other well known Chinese names. But no deals have been reached yet. And included in that report is news that the movie's start date has been pushed back from this autumn to next spring, largely due to the weather conditions in the Chinese and New Zealand locations.
So it would appear that Cavill, Walker and the rest will be battling supernatural creatures. At least Walker has a little experience with that, as he plays the title role in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which is out on June 20.