Anthony Hopkins, Judi Dench eye 'Italian Shoes'

LONDON -- Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench will be in talks for your lead roles in "Italian Shoes," which Kenneth Branagh will direct. The project is founded on the novel by Swedish author Henning Mankell, getting a script by Richard Cottan. It's the story from the outdated surgeon living around the remote island in Sweden, who's expected to confront his past mistakes when he's reunited by getting a classic flame. The film will start shooting toward the conclusion of 2012 or possibly in 2013, according to when the two veteran British stars are available. Branagh told Daily Variety the project is "tailor-made" for Hopkins and Dench, and contains been developed together in your head. "The nuance, delicacy and flavor is actually good perfect casting," he mentioned. Their casting, he mentioned, "uses my extended relationship with all of them.In . Hopkins starred in Branagh's "Thor," while Dench appears alongside Branagh in "My Week With Marilyn." Dench has formerly labored with with Branagh many occasions on-screen and also on stage. He directed her on film in "Henry V" and "Hamlet," through which more youthful crowd carried out the title roles. They came out together inside the telepic "Ghosts," and Dench directed Branagh on stage inside the Renaissance Theater productions of "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Try Looking In Anger." "Italian Shoes" continues to be created through the U.K.'s Left Bank Pictures and Sweden's Yellowbird, which co-produce the British-language TV series based on Mankell's "Wallander" detective books. Branagh might be the star and professional producer in the series, that's presently shooting its third season in northern Sweden. "Italian Shoes" is among three development projects that Branagh is related just like a director. He's also installed on "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society," scripted by Don Roos for Fox 2000, that's not been cast, and "The Boys inside the Boat" for your Weinstein Co., which has yet to announce a author. Branagh switched lower the purchase to direct "Thor 2" because of what he describes as "timing issues." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com