Mel and Leo teaming up for Viking epic

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Hollywood filmmaker Mel Gibson is to begin directing a Viking picture starring Leonardo DiCaprio next fall, the project's producer told Variety.

William Monahan is penning the script for the film, which Graham King is producing with Gibson and Tim Headington in a co-production between King's GK Films and Gibson's Icon Productions, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said Monday.

Monahan, DiCaprio and King previously collaborated on "The Departed," while DiCaprio and King also worked together on "Blood Diamond."

King produced the upcoming Gibson movie "Edge of Darkness," which Monahan wrote, as well.

"This will be an awe-inspiring story, created with some of the industry's finest cinematic talent and I am just over the moon to be making this film with Mel, Leo and Bill," King said in a statement to Daily Variety.