Will DiCaprio depict Brian Boru, in the upcoming Movie?

[flyer]

an Irish actor and cast should be used for the Irish in the film

Well the Irish actor Colin Farrell was recently cast as Alexander the Great in a blockbuster movie which had a mainly Irish supporting cast. And that was such an outstanding acting success it almost killed the Irish film industry

[pie xplorer]

Leonardo would be too "pretty boy" for that role, Russell Crowe or Mel. would be more convincing. Brat Pitt as Achilles in Troy was as spectacular a piece of miscasting as I've seen.

[Defeated Romanticist]

I'd prefer Di Caprio for Cuchulain,
He's a great actor IMO

I was always under the impression that Boru was an old man when he fought the Vikings?

[bodum]

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio is expected to confirm this week that he will play Irish High King Brian Boru in a new epic film.
The Titanic star has been heavily tipped for the lead role in Freedom within the Heart - scripted by Mark Mahon from Cork.

It tells the story of Boru's battle against the invading Vikings. Insiders are describing it as an "Irish Braveheart". It's understood that negotiations with DiCaprio and his agents are in the final stages.

Mr Mahon's film, Strength and Honour, won awards for the best leading actor and best picture at the Boston Film Festival last week. Talking about Freedom within the Heart, Mr Mahon said that it had the potential to be an Irish version of "Braveheart".

He told the Sunday Independent: "It is a fantastic story about an incredible time in Irish history and I am very excited about the whole project."

DiCaprio, 32, has been in negotiations for the past six months and a decision on the contract is expected this week. The film will tell the story of Boru's rise to become a powerful leader and will culminate in the Battle of Clontarf between his Irish army and the Vikings.

There are plans to shoot the film on location in Ireland in early 2008.

Is an American Actor the best choice?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787468/
With Vinnie Jones as Ivor of Limerick, the mind boggles!

[setanta]

It tells the story of Boru's battle against the invading Vikings. Insiders are describing it as an "Irish Braveheart". It's understood that negotiations with DiCaprio and his agents are in the final stages.

...

DiCaprio, 32, has been in negotiations for the past six months and a decision on the contract is expected this week. The film will tell the story of Boru's rise to become a powerful leader and will culminate in the Battle of Clontarf between his Irish army and the Vikings.

The Holywoodisation of Irish history continues. A couple of points about this Ború fella:

(a) The Vikings that BB and his army fought at Clontarf were not invaders. The Nordy feckers had been here for several generations long before that upstart and usurper got his gander up.

(b) Irish armies fought on both sides at Clontarf. The Vikings were joined by the Leinstermen who had little truck with BB's attempts to set himself up as emperor of the Irish, whatver his propagandist biographers might have claimed.

The Battle of Clontarf was more akin to a civil war fought primarilly for politico-military supremacy within Ireland. I do hope, vainly I am sure, that we don't get some latterday freedom-paen from Hollywood of the plucky, Christian Irish defeating pagan, barbarian Vikings!

[flyer]

With Vinnie Jones as Ivor of Limerick, the mind boggles!

Ivor of Limerick???? It already sounds total ************************e and so far we know the title, two of the actors and their names in the film.

It could even be worse than the eposide of Relic Hunter (used to be compulsive after pub viewing and not for the story lines) that depicted Brian Boru as a medieval lord with the english 3 lions on his shield and banner.

[zakalwe]

It tells the story of Boru's battle against the invading Vikings. Insiders are describing it as an "Irish Braveheart". It's understood that negotiations with DiCaprio and his agents are in the final stages.

...

DiCaprio, 32, has been in negotiations for the past six months and a decision on the contract is expected this week. The film will tell the story of Boru's rise to become a powerful leader and will culminate in the Battle of Clontarf between his Irish army and the Vikings.

The Holywoodisation of Irish history continues. A couple of points about this Ború fella:

(a) The Vikings that BB and his army fought at Clontarf were not invaders. The Nordy feckers had been here for several generations long before that upstart and usurper got his gander up.

(b) Irish armies fought on both sides at Clontarf. The Vikings were joined by the Leinstermen who had little truck with BB's attempts to set himself up as emperor of the Irish, whatver his propagandist biographers might have claimed.

The Battle of Clontarf was more akin to a civil war fought primarilly for politico-military supremacy within Ireland. I do hope, vainly I am sure, that we don't get some latterday freedom-paen from Hollywood of the plucky, Christian Irish defeating pagan, barbarian Vikings!

why let boring ol reality and truth stand in the way of a ripping yarn!
and while we're on the matter, could someone tell me how the americans found the enigma machine and won WW2, and how the dastardly british drove an armoured car into crokers before machinegunning everyone in the stands.

[WyldeOne]

I'd prefer Di Caprio for Cuchulain,
He's a great actor IMO

I was always under the impression that Boru was an old man when he fought the Vikings?

Are you kidding? Cuchulain was a battle raging maniac. Di Caprio can't do miffed without tearing up. It will be a shame if he is cast as BB.

[discordian]

'his bravery captivated a nation, his passion destroyed an empire (what?), his spirit could never be broken'. So goes the tag for the movie. This looks like one of the saddest Irish movie concepts ever - do a search for the Maron guy - maybe he should take up a career as a motivational speaker - he's even got an award named after him! The movie he's produced (or written or directed) is an Irish boxing movie for God's sake - I thought that one was already done - and is called Strength and Honour (please!) - How is Hollywood letting this guy away with this crap. Let's hope this never happens! Di Caprio is just a rumour, by the way - he would be well advised to avoid this crap (graphic novel and all) - and it would be a huge tragedy if a story such as BB's entered the global consciousness this way.

Maybe I'm just being too cynical, maybe it'll be wonderful. Not, as they would say in Beverly Hills 90210.

[joel]

It tells the story of Boru's battle against the invading Vikings. Insiders are describing it as an "Irish Braveheart". It's understood that negotiations with DiCaprio and his agents are in the final stages.

...

DiCaprio, 32, has been in negotiations for the past six months and a decision on the contract is expected this week. The film will tell the story of Boru's rise to become a powerful leader and will culminate in the Battle of Clontarf between his Irish army and the Vikings.

The Holywoodisation of Irish history continues. A couple of points about this Ború fella:

(a) The Vikings that BB and his army fought at Clontarf were not invaders. The Nordy feckers had been here for several generations long before that upstart and usurper got his gander up.

(b) Irish armies fought on both sides at Clontarf. The Vikings were joined by the Leinstermen who had little truck with BB's attempts to set himself up as emperor of the Irish, whatver his propagandist biographers might have claimed.

The Battle of Clontarf was more akin to a civil war fought primarilly for politico-military supremacy within Ireland. I do hope, vainly I am sure, that we don't get some latterday freedom-paen from Hollywood of the plucky, Christian Irish defeating pagan, barbarian Vikings!

I don't think you are right. Men were brought in from all over the Viking world to fight Boru - Iceland, Orkney, Isle of Man, etc. And if Boru was defeated then it may well have resulted in a Viking takeover of Ireland, as they had already done in England.

As it was, the Viking army was destroyed and Viking ambitions in Ireland ended forever.