Jeff Bridges and Dave Bautista will star in the upcoming live-action film from the Jim Henson Company Grendal, which is based on the epic poem Beowulf.

Bridges will take on the role of the classic monster Grendel and Bautisa will play Beowolf. The rest of the cast includes Bryan Cranston as King Hrothgar, Sam Elliott as The Dragon, Thomasin McKenzie as Queen Wealhtheow and Aidan Turner as Unferth.

Robert D. Krzykowski (The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot) will direct the movie from a script he wrote that is based on the John Gardener novel. T Bone Burnett will also star and provide original songs for the film.

The movie is described as the “tale of the legendary monster at the heart of the Beowulf epic poem who steps forth to tell his side of this riveting story.”

Of course, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will handle the practical creature work and design.

Krzykowski said in a statement: “Grendel represents everything I love about the movies. John Gardner’s mad masterpiece cleverly tackles what it is to be human through the wild-eyed lens of a monster.

“It’s an honor to work with such a remarkable group of storytellers, all of whom seek to bring something wonderful and unexpected to audiences now.”

The book is a retelling of part of the Old English poem Beowulf from the perspective of the antagonist, Grendel. In it, “Grendel is portrayed as an antihero. The novel deals with finding meaning in the world, the power of literature and myth, and the nature of good and evil.”

Brian Henson and Vince Raisa will produce for The Jim Henson Company, along with Krzykowski, Jay Glazer, Dennis Berardi and Jon D. Wagner. Bridges will exec produce, with John Sayles, Tamara Birkemoe, and Joe Jenckes of Ashland Hill Media Finance, which will finance the movie.

Source: THR