Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz Set for WB’s ‘Tarzan’

David Yates will direct the big-budget tentpole based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs

Warner Bros. has officially started pre-production on a new live-action 3D “Tarzan” movie that will star Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, the studio announced Tuesday.

David Yates, who directed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters, will direct from a screenplay based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Jerry Weintraub (WB’s “Ocean’s” trilogy) will produce with David Barron and Alan Riche, while Peter Riche will also be involved in a producing capacity.

WB’s domestic distribution president Dan Fellman also announced that “Tarzan” will hit U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016.

Also Read: ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Star Margot Robbie in Talks for ‘Tarzan’ – She’s Jane (Exclusive)

Skarsgard will play the legendary title character who was orphaned as a baby and raised in the jungle before he returns to London. “The Wolf of Wall Street” breakout Robbie will play Tarzan’s love interest Jane Porter, as TheWrap first reported.

“We have assembled a phenomenal international cast to tell this extraordinary story. Warner Bros. has also enjoyed long and successful collaborations with both David Yates and Jerry Weintraub, and we look forward to seeing what they and the entire team have in store for this timeless tale,” said Greg Silverman, president of creative development and worldwide production for Warner Bros.

“Tarzan has been an enduring and enigmatic figure in literature and cinema for more than a century. The adventures of a man who was torn between two worlds has entertained and intrigued people young and old, and we are excited to bring him to the screen for a new generation,” said Sue Kroll, WB’s president of worldwide marketing and international distribution.

Also Read: Cheetah, Chimpanzee Star of Early ‘Tarzan’ Films, Dead at 80

“This is a perfect entry for the summer movie season corridor, with a terrific combination of action, adventure, romance and suspense that is sure to appeal to a broad audience,” added Fellman.

“I am so pleased to be reuniting with the team at Warner Bros. on this thrilling project. David Yates and I are going to be using the best of today’s technology in creating this new adventure, and we can’t wait to get started,” said Weintraub.

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