Gerard Butler Joins Fiennes’ “Coriolanus”

During an interview with Baltimore WJX, Gerard Butler (“300,” “Law Abiding Citizen”) revealed he’s scored a role in an upcoming film adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus” reports Cinematical.

“Gladiator” scribe John Logan is adapting the tragedy about a devoted and arrogant soldier whose political machinations and military might gain him heroic status, but ultimately lead to his assassination.

Ralph Fiennes will star in the titular role and direct the project. Joining him and Butler as his nemesis Tullus Aufidius are the likes of William Hurt, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jessica Chastain.

The play is amongst the darkest and bloodiest of the Bard’s works, and also one of his more divisive with its political nuances and a lead character that’s difficult to pin down and full of contradictions.

Butler got his start on the stage at the Mermaid Theatre 1996 playing the secondary lead role in the play opposite acting giant Steven Berkoff.