Earlier this month Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) entered talks to play the archangel Michael in Paradise Lost, an action epic inspired by John Milton’s 17th Century poem. Now Variety reports that two time Academy Award nominated actor Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) will play The Angel of Death.
Alex Proyas (I, Robot) is directing and the movie follows Michael (Benjamin Walker), an archangel engaged in an epic battle of good and evil with Lucifer (Bradley Cooper), who mounts an army after after he is cast out of heaven. The Angel of Death turns his back on The Devil to tell God of Lucifer’s defection.
The movie will be heavy on digital effects, meaning 20 weeks of pre-production are required. Only 8 weeks of actual filming will take place, followed by 72 weeks of post-production. There are said to be three epic battles in the story. One that takes place in Heaven, another in Hell, and a third in Eden. Proyas said he thinks only “an insane person would want to make this movie”, but he’s currently prepping the film in Australia ready for an early 2012 shoot.
Warner Bros. will release Paradise Lost sometime in 2013.
