Irish writer-director Neil Jordan is finally set to film his long-planned historical drama, The Borgias. The film will begin production in April with Scarlett Johansson and Irish actor Colin Farrell in the leading roles.
Jordan came close to bringing the 15th century story to the screen in 2002, when Christina Ricci and Ewan McGregor were set to play the leading roles, but the collapse of a major funding source prevented the production from going ahead.
With two high-profile actors now in place to star in the film, the project has attracted alternative financing, and plans to proceed with the film were announced at the American Film Market in Santa Monica yesterday.
Jordan's screenplay for the film has been described as "filled with betrayal, backstabbing and murder, within a family that aspired to be the most powerful clan of the Renaissance".
It begins in 1492, when the pope dies and Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia emerges as the principle contender to replace him in the Vatican, despite having been responsible for a number of illegitimate children.
When he ascends to the papal throne, Rodrigo moves to consolidate his position, empowering and alienating various members of his family.
Johansson, who starred in Lost in Translation, will play Rodrigo's daughter Lucrezia Borgia, torn between her family duties and a desire to find true love.
Farrell will play Rodrigo's youngest son, Cesare, a duplicitous and manipulative sibling who considers himself his sister's closest confidante.
Farrell recently completed Miami Vice, a film loosely based on the 1980s TV series.
Jordan's latest film, Breakfast On Pluto, will have its Irish premiere in Dublin on January 11th.
Based on Patrick McCabe's novel, it features Cork actor Cillian Murphy as a young Irish transvestite and Liam Neeson as the priest who fathers him.