Fit Fot A King

Al Pacino and Michael Radford are teaming up for a second time tackling another one of William Shakespeare's works--the first was "The Merchant of Venice," in 2004,-this time it's King Lear reports Variety.

Pacino will play the title role-a monarch who selects his successor by parsing his kingdom in three parts, ruled by his 3 daughters. Two of them are connivers who flatter their father, while the one loving daughter, Cordelia, refuses to play that game and is exiled. The king ultimately loses everything.

Pacino follows in the footsteps of Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles and most recently Sir Ian McKellan. who have all played the monarch in previous film adaptations.

Produced by Barry Navidi,--who also worked with Pacino on "Merchant" tells Variety, "Al has been offered this role many times over the years, but didn't feel ready. "

"He's ready now. The film will be true to its period, very similar to the classical look of Merchant of Venice. Michael (Radford) came up with the most brilliant adaptation and Al and I flipped for it.".

Filming will begin later this year in Europe.