Warner Bros has made a preemptive acquisition of King Harald, a pitch that Mark L. Smith is writing as a potential vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio. It is said that King Harald will be produced by DiCaprio and his Appian Way partner Jennifer Davisson Killoran.
The subject is Harald Hardrada, the 11th Century conqueror who has been called the last great Viking king and, in particular, founded capital of Norway Oslo. His life is definitely worth to be filmed: King Harald was King of Norway for two decades, but his quest for power and thirst for battle led to his being exiled for a time to Russia and then returning in triumph. He almost always was involved in wars and revolutions. And as most of legendary viking kings was killed in the battle for the English throne.
The film envisioned is a Braveheart-style story. DiCaprio, a history buff, has long been interested in headlining a Viking movie; he had once circled a film about Viking warriors that Mel Gibson was to direct. Smith is repped by WME and Anonymous Content.
