Milla Jovovich, alongside Tom Hughes, has been cast to star in French director Christophe Gans’ pirate adventure ‘Corto Maltese’.
Gans will direct the film from a script by William Schneider. The movie is based on the stories of an adventurous sailor, created by comic book author and novelist Hugo Pratt and set at the dawn of the 20th Century.
The film follows Corto Maltese who has been hired by a Chinese revolutionary group to hijack the armoured train of the Russian Emperor Czar Nicolas II that is transporting his gold from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok with multiple schemes to capture this priceless treasure.
Also cast in the film James Thierrée as Corto’s sidekick, Rasputin, and Mark Dacascos. ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ star Michelle Yeoh is also in talks for a role.
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“‘Corto Maltese’ has been a dream project for me since I was a boy reading comics,” said Gans. “Now that I have the opportunity to bring this incredible story to the big screen, I can think of no better actor to play the adventurous Corto after meeting with Tom Hughes, whom I followed in the TV series ‘Victoria,’ and who has emerged as one of Britain’s truly top actors.”
Gans went on to say “I have known Milla Jovovich for a long time, having produced the ‘Resident Evil’ films that made her a star. Milla immediately found her vision to play this role and we are convinced that there could be no better choice.”
Samuel Hadida is producing the film through his Davis Films alongside Spain’s production and distribution company TriPictures.
Production is due to commence in January in Europe and China.
