Last week we reported that Rupert Wyatt, who directed Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was lining up to direct an adaptation of Sebastian Faulks’ novel Birdsong. The World War I-set film will focus on “an army officer who falls in love with a married French woman before the war, but is sent to the trenches when war breaks out.” At the time of the announcement, we had no casting details to report on but today, that changes as Nicholas Hoult has been tapped to take the lead role.
“[Hoult’s] great weight, depth and range as a fearless young actor allow us to explore this timeless story of a boy broken by a tragic love affair and what it means for young men to experience the real horror of war,” Wyatt said of the casting choice.
Hoult may not be a household name just yet but he’s starting to gain more exposure. I’d say his first big role came in 2011’s X-Men: First Class where he played Beast. From there, he starred in the recently released Warm Bodies and will also take the lead role in the upcoming Jack the Giant Slayer. Additionally, the future will also see him in high-profile films like Mad Max: Fury Road and X-Men: Days of Future Past. All in all, the next few years look bright for the young actor.
As for Birdsong, it’s unclear as to when it will get made, as Wyatt still has a few other projects in the works such as Agent 13 and Londongrad, among others. With the success of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the director is certainly on the rise and is a hot commodity in Hollywood right now. He’s a busy man so there’s no telling when he’ll get around to this one. Though considering he’s already written a screenplay for the film, I don’t think it will be too long before it heads into production.
Tell us, what do you think of Nicholas Hoult starring in Birdsong? Are you a fan of the actor?
