The first trailer for Kevin Macdonald’s (State of Play, The Last King of Scotland) new film The Eagle, has finally arrived. It stars Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell in what can only by described as the serious Roman version of that Eddie Murphy/Dan Aykroyd comedy, Trading Places, even though it’s almost nothing like it except for one plot detail, a powerful man and a weak man switch positions.
Formerly known as The Eagle of the Ninth, this film is about a Roman master and his Slave venturing out into uncharted territory in search of the golden Eagle emblem that the Roman’s father had lost when he disappeared into that territory years ago and never returned. Hit the jump to learn more and to watch the trailer for this Roman epic.
Personally, I love historical epics so I’m naturally inclined to say that I think this film has a lot of promise but I’m not sure how I feel about Channing Tatum in the lead role. He has never really done anything for me before so that’s why I remain a bit skeptical. The two real positives are that Mark Strong (Kick-Ass) is a villain and Donald Sutherland (MASH) in is it, two favorites of mine who are always solid on the screen. Lastly, while I like the concept, this could potentially be just another run-of-the-mill Roman epic but I’ll let you be the official judge. Check it out the trailer and let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Official synopsis:
In 140 AD, two men – master and slave – venture beyond the edge of the known world on a dangerous and obsessive quest that will push them beyond the boundaries of loyalty and betrayal, friendship and hatred, deceit and heroism…The Roman epic adventure THE EAGLE stars Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell and is directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald.
20 years earlier, Rome’s 5,000-strong Ninth Legion, under the command of Flavius Aquila, marched north carrying their treasured golden Eagle emblem. They never returned; Legion and Eagle simply vanished into the mists.
Hearing a rumor that the Eagle has been seen in a tribal temple in the far north, Flavius’ son Marcus (Tatum), determined to restore the tarnished reputation of his father, is galvanized into action. Accompanied only by his slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out into the vast and dangerous highlands of Scotland – to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father’s memory, and retrieve the hallowed Eagle. Along the way Marcus realizes that the mystery of his father’s disappearance may well be linked to the secret of his own slave’s identity and loyalty – a secret all the more pressing when the two come face-to-face with the warriors of the fearsome Seal Prince (Tahar Rahim).
Produced by Duncan Kenworthy and also co-starring Donald Sutherland, THE EAGLE’s screenplay is adapted by Jeremy Brock from Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic novel “The Eagle of the Ninth”.
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