Marlowe Finally Makes It

With only a blink-and-you'll miss it role in Black Hawk Down and the dodgy bald villain Shinzon in Nemesis on his CV, British actor Tom Hardy has landed a film lead playing Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe. Last played on screen by Rupert Everett in Shakespeare in Love, this version of the playwright's life will be directed by Julien Temple and produced by Andy Paterson – whose latest film Girl With A Pearl Earring previews at the London Film Festival next week. Playing opposite Hardy will be former Bond girl Rosamund Pike, who'll play Penelope, Lady Rich – the beautiful sister of the ill-fated Earl of Essex. According to ScreenDaily.com, Patterson is describing the film as a 'noir thriller. Marlowe was a cobbler’s son who rose through society so there was a class separation. He has to have charisma and be from the street but there is a danger that someone that precocious can slide into smugness. Tom doesn’t, he has an edge of danger.' Being the first to take Marlowe to the big screen is something of a coup for Patterson. Jude Law and Ewan McGregor's now-defunct film production company Natural Nylon had long-hoped to make the movie with Johnny Depp in the lead and Law as Shakespeare.