Discovering that his wife has committed adultery with a famous theater critic, a 19th century eccentric inventor murders his rival in a jealous rage. He is acquitted on the grounds of justifiable homicide, and becomes the father of motion pictures. Does this logline sound too outrageous even for Hollywood? Maybe, but according to The Wrap and ScreenRant, it’s Gary Oldman’s cup of tea.
The Dark Knight trilogy actor has penned Flying Horse, a screenplay adaptation of the book, River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge And The Technological Wild West. It’s been 16 years since the 55-year-old Oldman directed Nil By Mouth, starring Ray Winstone as an abusive husband. Maybe helming last years concert film, Jack White: Unstaged, is what inspired Gary to direct again. He has already invited his screen sharing buddies from the Harry Potter films, and Tinker,Tailor,Soldier, Spy – Ralph Fiennes and Benedcit Cumberbatch – to star.
The Wrap has said that although he has not made an official cast announcement, Gary is hoping Ralph Fiennes would play Eadweard Muybridge in the movie, which depicts an intensely personal and scandalous period of the acclaimed artists life.
Muybridge was a pioneering photographer who captured animal movement years before motion pictures were invented. His wife, Flora, was involved in an affair with Major Harry Larkyns (hopefully played by Benedict Cumberbatch), a prominent theater critic of the time. Muybridge killed him in a jealous rage, believing he could be the father of his only child.
Gary Oldman is considering playing a supporting role as Dennis Spencer, the district attorney who prosecuted Muybridge.
Gary is set to appear in next years RoboCop, and The Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes. Hopefully, he will be able to secure the additional financing needed to bring Flying Horse to the big screen.
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