Do you know who William Wilberforce was? Don't worry, most people outside of the UK don't, and it may be that a lot of people within don't either. I'll have to ask. However, thanks to the wonder of Hollywood, the world will soon be much more familiar with his name, but the face they'll connect with it is that of Mr. Fantastic, Ioan Gruffold.
Wilberforce was a political force and member of Parlaiment in Britain in the late 1700s/early 1800s. His life mission focused on the abolition of the Empire's slave trade. He butted heads with many famous people over the issue, the kind of stuff that makes great period movie dialogue...you know, if you're into great period movie dialogue.
According to the HollyWood Reporter, Walden Media, the company behind upcoming projects The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Charlotte's Web, is backing the story entitled Amazing Grace, about one of Britain's biggest anti-slavery supporters. Ioan Gruffold will play Wilberforce and Michael Apted (Enigma) will direct. Albert Finney (Corpse Bride) is slated to play Wilberforce supporter/peer John Newton.
America knows Gruffold best for his role as Mr. Fantastic, but he's no stranger to period films. Some of his best work as been in the movie adaptations of C.S. Forester's Horatio Horblower books, though I doubt he'll be shooting at any Frogs this time around. Wilberforce: The Movie is due out in late 2006.
