Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton are to lead the cast of ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’.
The ‘Dark Tower’ actor and the ‘Suspiria’ actress are provisionally attached to director George Miller’s next project – which has also been going by the title ‘Djinn’ – but won’t sign on and commit to the movie until a studio and financing have been put in place by producers.
Plot details of the film are being kept under wraps but the movie is believed to be a love story involving a genie.
The ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ filmmaker also wrote the script and is hoping to start filming next year, with rights going on sale next week at the American Film Market.
This is the second new project Idris has been attached to this month as it was recently revealed he is to appear in Tom Hooper’s adaptation of ‘Cats’.
The 46-year-old actor will star alongside the likes of Sir Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, and Taylor Swift in the much-anticipated adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s money-spinning musical.
Idris has already played a feline role in his career, starring as Shere Khan in 2016’s ‘The Jungle Book’.
The ‘Cats’ movie is to be produced by Tom, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Debra Hayward, while Steven Spielberg will be one of the executive producers of the project.
The adaptation has been in the works for years, with Tom – who directed ‘Les Miserables’ – previously teasing the ambition back in 2016.
Meanwhile, after recently making his directorial debut with ‘Yardie’, Idris’ own behaviour as an actor has changed.
He said recently: "I’ve always been sympathetic when directors have actors who are difficult to work with.
"’Guys, I’ve got a million things to deal with, I don’t need your issues right now.’ Actors are a really important part of the film engine but after working with actors that are super-dedicated – dedicated to the point where you couldn’t ask any more and young and eager to impress and who just went for it – it made me look at my own dedication.
"How much time am I giving the director to work to rehearse? How many times am I prepared to do it again differently if they ask me? Do I know my lines? I’ve always been an actor that wants to contribute to a happy crew. Now I’m going to work even harder to get there."
Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton to lead Three Thousand Years of Longing
