Legendary Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to join the cast of Arabian Nights remake!
If negotiations work out, Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is now amassing more magic for himself. And, maybe you already had a chance to hear that Chuck Russell (man who directed The Mask, Eraser, The Scorpion King) is in charge for directing this remake as well.
What we know about this story is that it “centers on a young commander who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.”
We also know that young commander is going to be Liam Hemsworth, although the part of Scheherazade hasn’t been cast yet but we, of course, expect some gorgeous young starlet to play the damsel in distress.
Like we said, Hopkins’s character Pharotu, the magic-obsessed character is responsible for the death of a mermaid who Sinbad loved, so guess we should all be prepared to see sword-driven revenge in 3D.
Russell and Barry P. Ambrose wrote the period epic, while Inferno’s Bill Johnson is producing with Mayhem Pictures’ Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray. ROAR will also produce.
The production is hoping to get lensing by the end of summer, and until that happens, make sure you watch Hopkins together with Naomi Watts and Josh Brolin in Woody Allen’s Cannes entry You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.
Just for a record, he recently wrapped a turn as Odin, the title character’s father, in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor and is currently in Hungary filming Mikael Hafstrom’s exorcism thriller The Rite with Toby Jones, Ciarin Hinds, and Alice Braga.
So, as you see, he’s a very busy actor, and we can’t wait to hear more details about this remake. Make sure you stay tuned!
