Mwah mwah! Air kisses all round, daaahlings, at this faaaabulous news: Ridley Scott, the man behind such fashion forward films as Blade Runner (totally brought back the trench coat) and Gladiator (Hello! Gladiator sandals anyone?) is set to direct a film about the Gucci fashion dynasty.
The story will be set in the 1970s and 1980s, centring on Maurizio Gucci, grandson of Gucci founder Guccio Gucci (best. Name. Ever.). Maurizio won a decades-old power struggle that had turned Gucci from a top-name brand into something of a disaster, turning the successes of the '60s and early '70s into a mess by the early '80s. Expect lots of disputed inheritances, family feuding and stock shenanigans if and when this makes it to the screen - and, especially, terribly well-dressed Italians shouting at one other.
Charles Randolph, writer of The Interpreter, has signed on to write the script, although of course he can't start until the strike is over, and Scott will direct after he's finished Body Of Lies with Leonardo DiCaprio and Nottingham with Russell Crowe, which is due to start in March - and assuming that an actors' strike doesn't stop everything after June. The film is as yet untitled but should be called Screw The Devil And Prada - God And All His Angels Wear Gucci, Bee-hatch if you ask us. Or perhaps you can suggest a better title?