Trio Tell A "A Winter's Tale"

Matt Bomer, Lucy Griffiths and Eva Marie Saint are set to join the cast of Akiva Goldsman's directorial debut "A Winter's Tale" says Deadline.

An adaptation of the 1983 Mark Helprin novel of the same name, follows Peter Lake, an orphaned mechanic (Colin Farrell) who tries to rob a palatial West Side mansion. There he meets a young dying girl ("Downton Abbey" co-star Jessica Brown Findlay) who he becomes determined to save. A flying white horse also figures into the story which is set in both 19th Century and contemporary Manhattan.

Bomer and Griffiths will play the thief's parents, Saint's role is not kmown but is said to be pivotal.

William Hurt will play the father of the dying young woman.

Russell Crowe is in talks to play a half a demon gangster boss named Pearly Soames, with Will Smith perhaps appearing in a small part as a judge. Both men have worked with Goldsman on films before.

Production kicks off in Manhattan at the end of next month.