Ralph Fiennes is finally ready to start shooting on his adaptation of Coriolanus, marking his first time in the director's chair and, unbelievably, his first Shakespearean film role when he takes the title role to boot.
The story has Roman General Caius Martius, later called Coriolanus (Fiennes), who despises the masses but becomes a hero when he conquers the city of Corioles (hence the name) from the hated Volscians (led by Tullus Aufidius, who's played by Gerard Butler). On returning home, Coriolanus' mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) persuades him to stand for election as a Consul - but things do not go according to plan, and betrayal, war and disaster result. Trust us, it's pacier than that sounds.
The film also stars Brian Cox (who we guess is playing Cominius, and who we think is stepping into a role to which William Hurt was at one point attached) as well as John Kani, Paul Jesson, James Nesbitt, Ashraf Barhom, Lubna Azabal and Jessica Chastain (soon to appear in Malick's Tree Of Life).
John Logan adapted the script (Gladiator, Sweeney Todd, The Aviator) and, rather excitingly, Barry Ackroyd is director of photography, so you know it'll look great. It's all being shot in Belgrade from St Patrick's Day next week, and we're told that the story will take place in a contemporary setting, so don't expect togas.
Unless, of course, that contemporary setting is a toga party. Hey, it could happen! They're in Hollywood; they could pass for college students.
Ahem. Expect to see this very late this year or more likely, sometime next.