Joseph Fiennes will star and Tom Felton will co-star in Kevin Reynolds’ early first-century epic thriller Clavius. Patrick Aiello is producing with LD Entertainment CEO Mickey Liddell and Head of Production Pete Shilaimon. LD is financing the film and eyeing an Easter Weekend 2015 berth.
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Scripted by Paul Aiello with additional writing by Reynolds, Clavius is told through the eyes of an agnostic Roman Centurion (Fiennes) charged by Pontius Pilate to investigate rumors of a risen Messiah and locate the missing body of Jesus of Nazareth in order to subdue an uprising in Jerusalem. Along the Centurion’s high-stakes mission, his doubts of such a supernatural occurrence are challenged as he encounters the Apostles and other historical characters while piecing together the mysterious events that unfolded after the crucifixion.
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Production begins in August in Malta and Spain, and casting for the co-lead of Pontius Pilate is underway. Liddell and Aiello said there is a Gladiator tone as the drama unfolds in the 50 days after the crucifixion. Fiennes co-starred in the Brett Ratner-directed Hercules and wrapped Strangerland opposite Nicole Kidman, and he’s signed to star on the Anonymous Content drama series Nostramadus. Felton appeared in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes after starring as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise. He just completed In Secret for LD Entertainment. Reynolds most recently helmed History’s Hatfields & McCoys, which reunited him with longtime collaborator Kevin Costner. Aiello produced As Above, So Below for Legendary, and LD is in post on the Rufus Sewell-starrer The Devil’s Hand and In Secret with Oscar Isaac, Jessica Lange, Elizabeth Olsen and Felton.
Fiennes, Reynolds and Patrick Aiello are repped by WME, with Fiennes also managed by Anonymous Content. Paul Aiello is repped by Paradigm and Felton by Troika and Management 360.
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