Lord Horatio Nelson, eh? What has he ever done to deserve the biopic treatment except stand stock still on a column in Trafalgar Square as though he’s made of stone and provide a place for pigeons to poo? Still, apparently Warner Bros. thinks he’s worthy of a film called **Love And Glory.
The man behind the monument will indeed be the focus of the film, which will source its material from John Sugden’s books Nelson: A Dream Of Glory and Nelson: The Sword Of Albion.
Peter Woodward (actor and screenwriter, son of Edward) is set to write the script, detailing Nelson’s naval service, his victories against Napoleon and his scandalous, passionate love affair with Emma, Lady Hamilton, with whom he had a child despite both remaining in their respective marriages. His role as leader of Britain's Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars and genius for sea warfare (despite lifelong seasickness) will be the focus, we imagine, but it's nice to have some scandal to spice things up.
Exactly how much of Nelson’s career will be chronicled remains to be seen - he went to sea at 13, after all, and worked his way up - but we’d bet good money on the inclusion of his fateful final battle at Cape Trafalgar. So far, only Woodward is attached, but we’re hoping the studio might reach out to Peter Weir to direct, given how well he brought British naval combat to the screen with Master And Commander…