Tahar Rahim lands role in 'Eagle'

LONDON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Tahar Rahim, best known for his work in the celebrated film, "Un Prophete," has joined the cast of the Roman epic, "The Eagle of the Ninth," producers said.

"Eagle" is being directed by Kevin Macdonald and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. Co-financed by Film4 with Focus Features, it stars Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland and Mark Strong.

The project reunites Oscar winner Macdonald with Jeremy Brock, the BAFTA Award-winning screenwriter of his 2006 film, "The Last King of Scotland."

Brock adapted the screenplay for "The Eagle of the Ninth" from Rosemary Sutcliff's classic novel of the same name. It is set in Britain in A.D. 140, 20 years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland.

"The Eagle of the Ninth" is shooting entirely on location. Following six weeks in Hungary, where filming began in August, the unit has since moved to Scotland and will remain there until production wraps next month, the filmmakers said in a news release.