Academy Award winner Adrien Brody has been cast in the title tole of Lee Tamahori’s revenge tale “Emperor.”
Brody (“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Pianist”) will play Emperor Charles V, a brilliant strategist trying to hold together his vast empire amid debauchery, sex and treason.
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It is written by Michael Thomas III (“The Devil’s Double”) and the script was adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher (“The Dutchess). Production begins in August 2014, and filming will take place in the Czech Republic and Belgium.
Corsan World Sales is handling sales, and Paradigm Talent Agency is supporting with casting.
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Brody previously worked with in Corsan in the Paul Haggis film “Third Person,” which will be released next month by Sony Pictures Classics.
“I have long admired Lee’s work and a true fan since he blew me away with ‘Once Were Warriors,’” said Brody. “The gritty and complex nature of his films and the characters within them haunt me to this day. When Lee approached me to play the role of ‘Charles V’ — a man with great power, and greater flaws — whose demons took his empire to the brink — I felt compelled to accept the challenge. I am also pleased to have the opportunity to work with Paul and Corsan again after the great, creative experience we shared together on ‘Third Person.’”
First established in 1989 by Paul Breuls, Corsan is an international film finance, production and sales company based in Antwerp, Belgium.
“With Adrien and Lee Tamahori in place, we are attracting a very talented group of American and International actors, who we will announce shortly, for this sweeping film that will have world wide appeal,” said Breuls.