Dave Bautista, Jeff Bridges & More To Star In Live-Action Monster Film Grendel

A live-action Grendel movie is in the works from The Jim Henson Company with Dave Bautista, Jeff Bridges set to star. Deadline reports that the company has set up the film with Bautista, Bridges, Bryan Cranston, Sam Elliott, Thomasin McKenzie, and Aidan Turner toplining.

The film is based on the novel by John Gardner, which takes its inspiration from the famed epic poem Beowulf. Robert D. Krzykowski is directing the movie his own script.

Bridges will play the titular monster in the film, who is stepping forth to tell his own story per the site. Bautista will play Beowulf, Cranston plays King Hrothgar, Elliott is The Dragon, McKenzie plays Queen Wealhtheow, and Turner will play Unferth. T Bone Burnett plays The Shaper and will provide original songs for the movie. Production kicks off in Europe later this year.

“Grendel represents everything I love about the movies,” Krzykowski said in a statement. “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.”