Brendan Fraser will take on the title role in the historical family action adventure William Tell: 3D, to be shot this fall in Europe. Nick Hurran (The Prisoner and Doctor Who) is slated to direct from a script by Scott Reynolds. The principal photography is expected to begin October 1st at Castel Studios in Romania and on location in Switzerland.

William Tell is a legend in North America for shooting an apple from the top of his son’s head with a bow and arrow (it was really a crossbow). What Americans don’t know is that he’s a revered historical figure in Europe. That’s right. I am an American and did not know he was so well thought of in Europe.

In the legend, Tell just can’t leave well enough alone. The local royal leader of the Hapsburg monarch, Hermann Gessler forces Tell to shoot the apple because he refused to bow before Gessler’s hat, erected in a town square.

Tell succeeds in cleanly (and safely) cleaving the fruit and wins his and his son’s freedom. But Gessler asks Tell why he had two arrows is his quiver, and Tell replies he was going to shoot Gessler with the second if he’d missed. Tell’s defiance of Gessler ignited an uprising against the Austrian government, which led to the formation of Switzerland.   Not yet confirmed, Anna Paquin will play Zora, Tell’s wife and Til Schweiger will play Gessler.