Michael Fassbender to Play MACBETH in New Film Adaptation

Screendaily.com reports that Michael Fassbender is currently attached to star in an upcoming film adaptation of the iconic Shakespearean play MACBETH from See Saw Films and Film4. The script was co-written by Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff.

According to the report, the latest version will take place in the 11th century and will be spoken in the original Scottish language. Fassbender will portray the ruthless lead character in the film described as "visceral". No other casting details have been released at this time however the site reports that the role of Lady MacBeth will be filled by a leading Hollywood actress.

Justin Kurzel is set to direct the project which will begin production later this year. Iain Canning and Emile Sherman ("Hunger," "Shame") will produce.

Broadway's powerful new production of Shakespeare's Macbeth, starring Tony and Olivier Award winner and two-time Emmy Award nominee Alan Cumming (Cabaret, "The Good Wife"), opened on Broadway on April 7, 2013. Direct from sold-out engagements at The National Theatre of Scotland and the Lincoln Center Festival, this acclaimed one-man interpretation of Macbeth will play a strictly limited 73-performance Broadway engagement.

Michael Fassbender is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Archie Hicox in the filmInglourious Basterds (2009), Magneto in the superhero film X-Men: First Class (2011), and the android David in the science fiction filmPrometheus (2012).

His other credits include the fantasy action film 300 (2007); the drama film Fish Tank (2009); the romantic drama film Jane Eyre (2011); thehistorical film A Dangerous Method (2011); the biographical film Hunger (2008) and the drama film Shame (2011), both directed by Steve McQueen. For his role in Shame, he won the Volpi Cup best actor award at the 68th Venice International Film Festival held in August 2011, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA.