Jude Law is to portray King Henry VIII in Firebrand, an upcoming historical movie described by its director as a "potboiler."
He joins Michelle Williams, who has already been cast as Catherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of the infamous Tudor king, Deadline reports.
The movie is being directed by Karim Aïnouz (The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão) and has a script by Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth, whose credits include co-writing Killing Eve's season two episode "The Hungry Caterpillar" with Emerald Fennell.
Catherine Parr was married to King Henry VIII from July 12, 1543 until his death on January 28, 1547. She is well regarded among historians, many of whom perceive her as compassionate, morally sturdy, and loyal. Firebrand  sounds like a more feminist and well-rounded take on her life story than she has perhaps been afforded in the past. 
"This is a woman who deserves a portrait,” Aïnouz told Deadline. “There has been much depicted on the king and the wives that perished. It’s important to look at someone who turns out to be stronger than the forces around them. This is a modernistic look at the classic trope of the woman trapped in a castle with a monster."
The director also said that Law will not portray Henry VIII as the "clichéd fat man eating the turkey leg," adding: "Jude got how complex this guy was, not a lovable character but as a most powerful man of his time."
It definitely sounds like a historical movie with a modern edge – bring it on.
Do you like the sound of Firebrand?