Gerard Butler is in talks to join Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Geoffrey Rush in Gods of Egypt, Alex Proyas’ action-adventure set in ancient Egypt that’s due to shoot in Australia next March.
Butler would play Set, a god who kills and mutilates his own brother Osiris, according to Deadline.com. Coster-Waldau stars as Horus, the son of Osiris, who seeks to avenge his father’s death.
Rush will play the sun god Ra, father of Set and Osiris who is also Set’s ultimate target, The Hollywood Reporter revealed.
Summit Entertainment is financing the SFX-laden film, which would be released in the US by its sibling Lionsgate. The producers are Proyas’ Mystery Clock Cinema and Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk, with Proyas’ long-time business partner Topher Dow as executive producer.
The screenplay is by Proyas and Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, the team behind Dracula Untold, which Universal will release next year. Proyas was due to direct that film, which stars Luke Evans (Fast & Furious 6, Immortals) in the origin story of the man who became Dracula. Proyas dropped out due to differences over the budget and was replaced by Gary Shore.
If he signs, Butler would return to familiar territory, having made his name in 300, after far less successful forays into lighter fare such as The Ugly Truth and The Bounty Hunter.