Leonardo DiCaprio Producing and Could Star in Viking Film ‘King Harald’

[Akijama]

http://www.slashfilm.com/leonardo-di...m-king-harald/

Leonardo DiCaprio‘s company Appian Way has optioned a script pitch called King Harald, with DiCaprio set to produce and (as these things go) possibly star. The film would be written by Mark L. Smith, with the focus on the Norse king Harald III, called Harald Hardrada (tough ruler). He was a mercenary and warrior, who while leading Norway invaded Denmark and, most famously, stormed the shores of England in 1066.

Harald is considered the last Viking king, and (spoiler!) his death in England effectively closed the viking age. A fitting subject for a film, then. But this film, suggests Deadline, may be based on an earlier point in Harald’s life.

In Harald’s youth, his half-brother Olaf strove to take the Norwegian throne from the Danish King Cnut (also a really fantastic, interesting figure), leading to Olaf’s death and years of exile in the pre-Russia land occupied by East Slavic tribes for Harald. After time there and some pre-Crusades adventuring around Constantinople, the borders of the Byzantine Empire, and Jerusalem, Harald eventually went home and took the Norse throne for himself. Deadline suggests there’s a Braveheart angle to the pitch, so it may be that exile and homecoming that serves as the center of the movie.

(In fact, Harald’s return to rule in Norway has a lot more to do with family ties, deal-making and politics than it does military prowess. It would make better TV than film, so if this is the period the movie focuses on, we could see some simplification of the chain of events. There’s a lot more action in Harald’s attempt to secure rule of Denmark.)

This project, in a way, goes back some time. Though the pitch is new, DiCaprio has eyed a film about the Norse figures for years. Once upon a time, Mel Gibson planned to make a film about Vikings, and Leonardo DiCaprio was a potential star. That didn’t work out, but perhaps this one will finally satiate DiCaprio’s desire to be a Viking.

[BJKH]

I will watch anything starring Leo DiCaprio. I have Viking heritage too, so this movie would be great.

[Abdrewes]

I know everybody hates the guy, but Mel Gibson would be the perfect fit as director. I really wanted him to get his own Viking project off the ground.

[esteban²]

Is this the viking-movie directed by Mel Gibson starring Leo DiCaprio, or something else? Cause when I think of Apocalypto (and others), I'm sure that Gibson is the right man to do this. I'll be thrilled if his name gets connected to the project again.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by UnknownBesideArch

A Viking movie, I like the sound of this a lot... hope it turns out to be good!!

Monty Python - Njorl's Saga (Part II) - YouTube

(Seriously, the history of Vikings in England isn't usually a widely discussed topic, as most adventures don't try to make Vikings the "bad guys".
And Braveheart can't be so stuck in our heads that we still think of "Barbarian warriors" when we think of Mel Gibson, and not "Neurotic self-flagellation fantasies"...)

[BluRayTim]

Originally Posted by BJKH

I will watch anything starring Leo DiCaprio. I have Viking heritage too, so this movie would be great.

Me, too! He is my favorite right now!