We reported last week on producers Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton, who were behind Zack Snyder’s 300, are looking to adapt author Conn Iggulden’s Emperor series of books (The Gates of Rome, The Death of Kings, The Field of Swords, and The Gods of War) into a film trilogy.
Now Deadline is reporting that director Burr Steers will take on Emperor: Young Caesar, the first of the trilogy. It is based on the first two novels The Gates of Rome and The Field of Swords.
It’s kind of an odd choice considering Steers was behind the indie drama Igby Goes Down then two Zac Efron starring vehicles, 17 Again and the upcoming Charlie St. Cloud. This will definitely a big departure for him, but I think he is a solid director to take something like this.
The film will “trace the relationship between Julius and Marcus Brutus from childhood to that fateful encounter on the Roman Senate floor.” Oscar-nominated William Broyles (Jarhead, Castaway, Apollo 13) and Stephen Harrigan wrote the script. Burr Steers comments below.
“I’ve always had an interest in Julius Caesar and his formative years and am thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of this project. There has never been a film that focuses on Caesar as a young man, and Conn Iggulden, Bill Broyles and Stephen Harrigan have a completely fresh, timely, and exciting take on one of the greatest historical figures of all time. I look forward to working with Conn, Bill and Stephen, Exclusive Media, Atmosphere’s Mark Canton and Hollywood Gang’s Gianni Nunnari and Craig Flores.”
Exclusive Media Group is on quite a streak with both Peter Weir‘s The Way Back and Matt Reeves‘ Let Me In coming out later this year. They plan to have a trilogy of these films, but Steers is only confirmed for the first one.
What do you think about Steers doing Caeser?