The Guardian carries confirmation that Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is set to play King Lear in an upcoming big-screen adaptation of the classic Shakespeare tragedy. The film will also star Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and Keira Knightley as Lear’s three daughters; more big names are attached to the film – they are to be announced soon.

"The one thing that I’m staying away from is stunt casting," said director Joshua Michael Stern, "so there won’t be the American comedian, but there will be some really great actors playing smaller roles that will make a lot of sense."

Stern’s previous works have been comedy shorts; he has also scripted episodes of Law & Order and Chicago Hope. However, he insists that he won’t be meddling with the original text.

"I’m not very fond of the modern adaptations," he said. "It’s pre-Roman, Celtic, very raw. It’s a period in British history, from which Tolkien took a lot of his inspiration, where there were thatched-roof roundhouses and fortresses."

The film will begin shooting in Britain or Ireland early next year.