Movie News

Kevin Macdonald Takes on Eagle of the Ninth

March 31, 2009

Helmer Kevin Macdonald will follow State of Play by directing the Roman military drama The Eagle of the Ninth, reports Variety. Focus Features will distribute the film, set to begin production in August.

Jamie Bell is set to star in the 2nd century A.D. tale, and Channing Tatum is in talks to join him. The script is by Jeremy Brock, who teamed with Macdonald on The Last King of Scotland.

The story revolves around a wounded Roman soldier and his loyal Celtic slave who try to solve the mystery of the Ninth Legion, a brigade of Roman soldiers that vanished after heading into the untamed Highlands of Scotland 15 years earlier.

Bell is set to play the slave, while Tatum has been offered the lead but has not yet committed.

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COMMENTS (17)

Posted by:

HulkSmash666

March 31, 2009

Sounds cool. I love movies set in ancient times, and love anything to do with Rome in particular.
Not sure how Channing Tatum is gonna go as the lead role. Nothing worse than seeing a movie set in ancient times and having someonewith an American accent start talking.
It ruins movies for me. I'd rather here an English accent or at least someone who can speak in an English accent.
The HBO series Rome would have been butchered had any American accents been present.

So unless Tatum can do a good English accent, I'm remaining sceptical. Bell is a good choice though.

Posted by:

gikey5

March 31, 2009

Lol...I thought of Kevin Macdonald of the Kids in the Hall fame.

Posted by:

gikey5

March 31, 2009

I looked it up...it's close but the Kids in the Hall guy is Kevin McDonald not MacDonald. Still he's a goofy and funny guy.

Posted by:

Yukon

March 31, 2009

gikey> i thought the same thing!

Posted by:

imdbdude

March 31, 2009

Not sold on this one.

Roman soldier looking for more romans. Not my thing.

Posted by:

credit

March 31, 2009

as if no one would mention that its being adapted from a book. Eagle of the ninth was by rosmary suttcliff and one i remember reading when i was younger. really good read. it was part of a trilogy about the romans in britain. hope they dont **** this up.

Posted by:

HulkSmashNow

March 31, 2009

Isn't this similar to Neil Marshall's "Centurion" which is coming out this year?

Posted by:

jacoby

March 31, 2009

sounds like an interesting concept but questionable actors

Posted by:

KnP

March 31, 2009

I wondered if this was based of Suttcliff's book, too. If it is I'm in the same boat, don't butcher it.