Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen to star in “The Dresser” telepic

PanARMENIAN.Net - Starz has tapped two big names for its TV movie. Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen are set to star in "The Dresser" telepic, an adaptation of Ronald Harwood's 1980 play of the same title. Hopkins will portray an ailing actor and McKellen will star as his devoted backstage hand and dresser. The network announced the project at the Television Critics Assosication's winter press tour on Friday, January 9 in Pasadena, AceShowbiz reports.

The play itself was inspired by Harwood's own experience as a dresser for British actor and manager Sir Donald Wolfit. It is set against the backdrop of World War II. The play was nominated for Best Play at the Laurence Olivier Awards for 1980, and the Broadway version was nominated for the 1982 Tony Award for Best Play and Best Actor in a Play (Tom Courtenay). It was turned into a 1983 film starring Albert Finney which received five nominations at Academy Awards.

" 'The Dresser' is a timeless and poignant story about the relationship between artists, and to have this classic play brought to life on-screen by such acting giants as Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen is thrilling," said Carmi Zlotnik, managing director of Starz. "We are glad to be working in partnership again with the BBC and Colin Callender on this very special project, and to be establishing a relationship with acclaimed theater producer Sonia Friedman."

Starz is co-producing "The Dresser" TV adaptation with BBC. Richard Eyre will serve as director, with Callender, Friedman, Polly Hilly and Ben Stephenson as executive producers. Production will begin in London later this year.

Also at the event, Starz announced it would launch its first comedy series "Survivor's Remorse" and "Blunt Talk" this year. The latter is from Seth MacFarlane and Jonathan Ames with Patrick Stewart among the cast, and has received a two-season order from the cable channel.

As for the "Evil Dead" sequel series, "Ash vs. Evil Dead" starring Bruce Campbell, it will be filming in New Zealand and is set for premiere at the end of third or fourth quarter of 2015.