Paul W.S. Anderson's “Pompeii” historical action epic release date set

PanARMENIAN.Net - Peter Schlessel's FilmDistrict has acquired U.S. rights to Paul W.S. Anderson's historical action epic Pompeii, setting a Feb. 28, 2014, release date in partnership with Sony/TriStar, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Germany's Constantin Film and Impact produced and financed the big-budget action pic, which stars Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland, Jared Harris and Carrie-Anne Moss. Production is currently underway.

The film follows an enslaved Celtic gladiator who falls in love with a noblewoman on the eve of a massive volcanic eruption that destroys Pompeii, an event that also brings him face-to-face with the man who slaughtered his family years earlier.

Jeremy Bolt, Anderson, Robert Kulzer and Don Carmody are producing the film; executive producers are Martin Moszkowicz, Jon Brown and Schlessel serving as executive producers. Lee Batchler, Janet Scott Batchler, Michael Robert Johnson and Julian Fellowes wrote the screenplay for the film which is currently in production.

FilmDistrict and Sony/TriStar have an ongoing partnership, and are currently in theaters with the remake of Sam Raimi's cult horror pic Evil Dead, which opened to a better-than-expected $25.8 million over the weekend.