After Braveheart, Apocalypto, and The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson is now set to direct a film about viking culture. Variety reports that Leonardo DiCaprio will star in the film written by William Monahan, who was behind The Departed, Kingdom of Heaven, Body of Lies, and the upcoming Edge of Darkness. Mel Gibson isn’t the only connection in the project. Producer Graham King worked on The Departed, Edge of Darkness and London Boulevard, Monahan’s upcoming directorial debut, starring Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley, set to be released later this year. As for the currently untitled viking film King says it will “be an awe-inspiring story, created with some of the industry’s finest cinematic talent and I am just over the moon to be making this film with Mel, Leo and Bill.” The project is looking to begin shooting in fall 2010.
Leonardo DiCaprio can be seen in Martin Scorsese‘s Shutter Island (check out impressions from BNAT here) on February 19th and Christopher Nolan‘s Inception in July.
Mel Gibson can be seen in Martin Campbell‘s Edge of Darkness on January 29th and Jodie Foster‘s The Beaver later this year.
I find Braveheart terribly overwrought and Apocalypto dreadful, so I’m not sure about Gibson, but Leo and Monahan definitely incite some interest. What do you think about the project?