Anthony Hopkins, Judi Dench to Star in Kenneth Branagh's ITALIAN SHOES?

As first reported in Variety, the upcoming Kenneth Branagh-directed project ITALIAN SHOES may soon have an all-star cast including Judi Dench and Anthony Hopkins. The actors are reported to be in talks to star in the picture, which is based on a novel by Henning Mankell. The script is penned by Richard Cottan.

The film follows the tale of a surgeon, recently retired and living off a very remote island in Sweden. When he comes up against a former lover, he is forced to reevaluate some of the unfortunate mistakes he has made throughout his life.

Branagh recently revealed in an interview in Variety that he had imagined the two award winning actors in these roles from the onset of the project. Says Branagh, "The nuance, delicacy and flavor is so based on the perfect casting. Their casting takes advantage of my long relationship with the pair of them."

ITALIAN SHOES is set to begin shooting toward the end of next year or in early 2013.