Production on Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut, Coriolanus, is due to begin next week, with shooting taking place in Belgrade, The Guardian is reporting.

Coriolanus is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in the 17th century, which tells the story of a heroic Roman general who rebels against the Empire. A full synopsis can be found on Wikipedia.

Fiennes has also cast himself in the lead role, having previously portrayed the character on stage, and revealed at Cannes last year that he was expecting the film to be an “edge-of-the-seat” thriller, sure to ignite the passions of Gladiator-enthusiasts everywhere.

The cast also includes Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Cox, which promises to provide the necessary beef and gravitas required for a contemporary Shakespearean telling.

Will Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut be a success?