Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd is being lined up to star as Benjamin Disraeli in the provisionally titled Dizzy, a feature dramatising the life of the brilliant British prime minister being produced by Mark Shivas and Ecosse Films.
Gruffudd would play Disraeli at 28 years old in the film, which revolves around his affair with an older married woman. Gruffudd's feature credits include the upcoming 102 Dalmatians and Very Annie Mary, along with Wilde and Titanic, plus high-profile UK TV work such as Warriors and Hornblower.
"It's a very, very interesting part," said Christian Hodell, who represents Gruffudd at London's Hamilton Asper Management. "We are looking forward to reading the script."
Heidi Thomas has writing duties; Shivas and Ecosse's Douglas Rae and Robert Bernstein are to share producing chores, although precise credits have not yet been assigned. Thomas' CV includes BBC Films and Miramax Films' upcoming production I Capture The Castle, on which Shivas is an executive producer.
Shivas' UK production outfit Perpetual Motion Pictures and BBC Films are also developing One Last Adventure for actor Peter O'Toole, who would play George Bernard Shaw. Hugh Whitemore has been commissioned to write the script.
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