Paul Bettany's career has been a little frustrating of late, for no one more so than him, we imagine. Once touted as the next big thing, he's been in his fair share of hits, but in the last few years, he's either taken supporting roles in films like "The Young Victoria" or "The Tourist," or leads in Screen Gems action pictures like "Legion" and "Priest," with "Margin Call" proving the only real highlight. But perhaps inspired by the Oscar-winning success of "The King's Speech," which the actor famously passed on, and by missing out to his old pal Russell Crowe on "Les Miserables," he seems to be getting serious about his choices again.
After flirting with the lead Showtime series "Masters of Sex," ultimately taken by Michael Sheen, Bettany will shortly start filming on "Blood," a promising British crime thriller co-starring Mark Strong, Stephen Graham and Brian Cox, from "The Awakening" director Nick Murphy, and he's just lined up a highly intriguing new project. Screen Daily report that Bettany is in talks to star in "Lost Rooms," the next film from Alexei Pobogrebsky, who made a splash two years ago with the Arctic drama "How I Ended This Summer," which was in competition in Berlin, and won Best Film at the London Film Festival.
The project, which will mark Pobogrebsky's English-language debut, will also be shot in 3D, and sounds as if it's been designed from the ground up for the format. The plot will involve a young girl who has the ability to see depth where others can only see flat surfaces. Pobogrebsky has filmed a short film, named "Blood Shot" in 3D in preparation, and we're intrigued by the premise, and what he might be able to bring to the stereo format.
It also seems like exactly the kind of project that Bettany should be doing these days, and more U.K. and U.S. talent is expected to join him soon. The film has got nearly $4 million from Russian film and TV companies, and is currently seeking Western co-producers for the rest of the budget. Shooting isn't planned to get underway until early 2013.