After a distinctly slow and low-quality patch in his career (Furry Vengeance? Extraordinary Measures?) Brendan Fraser is kicking things into high gear, signing on to a number of new movies and looking to put the doldrums behind him. And now it appears he’s aiming to get back into drama/action territory a la The Mummy with William Tell: 3D, a new take on the legendary archer.
A man so famous he has his own Overture, Tell’s story finds the rebellious arrow-slinger refusing to bow in front of a statue of the king (Til Schweiger). He’s then forced by the monarch to shoot an apple from his son’s head as punishment, but keeps two arrows in his quiver, as he was intending to fire the other at the king if he missed the fruit. Events spiralled, there was an uprising and Switzerland came into being. As you do…
Nic Hurran, who has worked on the likes of the Prisoner TV remake (we won’t hold that against him too much) and has a couple of Doctor Who episodes in the can for later in this current season, also directed the cinematic likes of Virtual Sexuality and the underrated It’s a Boy Girl Thing. But he’s making the jump to adventure with Scott Reynolds’ script.
Anna Paquin is also looking to climb aboard, entering negotiations to play Tell’s wife in the film, which should kick off shooting later this year in Romania and Switzerland. Fraser will likely have all fingers and several toes crossed it helps pump some life into his reputation as a leading man.