Back in February, it was revealed that Oscar-winning writer/producer Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code) is set to make his directorial debut with Winter’s Tale for Warner Bros. Now things are moving forward, as THR reports that Russell Crowe is loosely attached to portray the villain.

The story, based on Mark Halprin’s novel, takes place at both the beginning and the end of the 20th century and centers on Peter Lake, a burglar who robs an Irish heiress and begins to fall for her as she dies in his arms. He comes to learn he has the gift of reincarnation, and is determined to save her.

Tom Hiddleston and Benjamin Walker are reading for the role of a criminal on the run. Elizabeth Olsen, Bella Heathcote, Gabriele Wilde, and Sarah Gadon are reading for the sick woman. It isn’t known when production will begin on Winter’s Tale, as everything is dependent on getting a decent enough cast together to secure final funding.

General movie news courtesy of Movie Muser