Benjamin Walker in the role of Archangel Michael
Hollywood has spent several years on preparing adaptation of the poem of John Milton's "Paradise Lost" that technology has reached a desired level. Now in charge of the project is director Alex Proyas. He has found his Lucifer - it will be Bradley Cooper. His opponent, the Archangel Michael, may play Benjamin Walker, who starred in the film by Timur Bekmambetov, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter."
"Paradise Lost" is being in development for seven years. Five writers passed through Milton's poem, but the final version belongs to Ryan Kondalu. The scope of the project is not just wide, but very wide. This is supposed to be epic in 3D with a mass of special effects and large-scale battle scenes. To represent the work front, it is enough to know that pre-production will take 20 weeks, shooting itself - 8 weeks, but in post-production will take 72 weeks, that is more than a year.
At the centre of the story - the battle that started all the wars. Fallen Angel Lucifer gathers an army in order to fight against the forces of good, which is led by the archangel Michael. Alex Proyas is now preparing for the shooting and says it is not just a film about the clash of armies of good and evil.
"It is an adventure film about the origins of good and evil, after Lucifer expelled because of his rebellion. He begins to fight against his brother Archangel for the souls of people, the first of which were Adam and Eve. We tried to stick as closely as possible to the text of Milton, particularly at the evolution of Lucifer and the birth of evil. This is a family saga about two brothers whose paths have diverged. Lucifer believes that his father has betrayed him and the family pushes him on the path of evil".
According to the director, the project will have three large-scale battle scenes. One of them will be in heaven, the other - in Hell, and the third - in Paradise.
"Sometimes I think only a fool will take up such a project - says Proyas. - It's a very bold in terms of visual pattern based on a poem beloved by many. In my view, technology is only now reached the desired level for such film, so it's great to be director during such possibilities of visual effects. "
Yet Proyas said that despite the special effects, the main thing in "Paradise Lost" - its characters.
Ben Walker has not yet signed a contract, but director has high hopes that the actor becomes his Archangel Michael.
"He has surprising combination of power and innocence. Bradley - an incredibly charismatic guy! After all, Lucifer was the smartest and brightest among the archangels, and even being expelled, it still does not turn into classic villain. I am sure that Bradley will provide the necessary depth to his hero. "
For Benjamin Walker the role in the film of Proyas - another major step up in career. He previously starred on the third roles, played in musicals, but, receiving the main role in the project by Timur Bekmambetov "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter", the actor instantly pulls the lists of the most promising young actors in Hollywood.
"Paradise Lost" will be released at the end of 2013.