Shakespeare is getting an outing this year with Macbeth, and now we’ve got our first look with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard looking suitably Dark Ages, as this take retains the original story’s 11th Century setting.

Michael Fassbender is the title character, a Scottish Lord who will do anything to become king, with Marion Cotillard portraying his wife, Lady Macbeth.

However there are some new ideas, as Fassbender told the Daily Mail, his character is “Suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. It makes total sense, when you think about it. Justin set the seed of the idea in my head. This trauma is something we know about. In World War I they called it battle fatigue, and it was probably more horrific in Macbeth’s days, when they were killing with their bare hands, and driving a blade through bodies. He’s having these hallucinations, and he needs to return to the violence to find some sort of clarity, or peace.”

He adds, “He’d been away fighting and when he returns, we see it’s a relationship that’s broken down. They lost a child, and there wasn’t time for them to grieve because he’s been away campaigning. Lady M is desperate for that reconnection, and briefly they do. And, of course, the doorway has been opened to darkness and to violence.”

The actor also revealed that the cast use Scottish accents, except for Marion Cotillard, saying “We felt it would be unreasonable for her to put on a Scottish accent. It would not be unreasonable to presume that her character spent time in the French court.”

The film should be in cinemas late this year or early next.

A few months ago Natalie Portman signed up to star in a new film version of Shakepeare’s Macbeth, but now she’s dropped out and Variety reports that they’re replaced one Best Actress Oscar winner with another, as Marion Cotillard has taken over the role.

Michael Fassbender is still attached to the title role, in a film that retains the 11th Century setting of the play. It follows a cunning Scottish Lord who plot to steal the throne, with the help of his wife and a trio of witches. The screenplay is said to take a visceral approach to the battle scenes, while keeping most of the original dialogue intact. The script was written by Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff (The Marc Pease Experience), although it will retain Shakespeare’s actual words.

“Cotillard has proven extraordinary versatility through her stunning performances in La Vie En Rose and Rust And Bone. Casting her as Lady Macbeth alongside Michael Fassbender will bring a fresh and exciting dynamic to the story of lovers pulled apart by war and ambition,” said producer Iain Canning.

Director Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) added, “She is one of the bravest and most compelling actors I have watched in recent years and I cannot wait to collaborate with both her and Michael in bringing to screen this very human and tragic love story.”