DiCaprio tackles Vikes

While in the NFL, the Vikings have proven to be difficult to tackle, it hasn’t been much of an issue for Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio has signed on to star in an untitled Viking movie for director Mel Gibson. Sorry Minnesotans, this isn’t a tale about the Purple People Eaters but instead a story about classic Viking lore, similar to what Gibson did with BRAVEHEART. William Monahan, who won an Oscar for writing the DiCaprio starrer THE DEPARTED, is currently working on the script.

Like APOCALYPTO and PASSION OF THE CHRIST before it, the film will be set up independently and will seek distribution at a later date but an epic adventure with plenty of A-list talent should have no problem finding suitors. While filming is expected to begin on the project in 2010, DiCaprio is expected to try and squeeze in one more starring role before production gets underway (and he’s got tons of projects in the works including THE CHANCELLOR MANUSCRIPT, THE RISE OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT and an adaptation of Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink.” Leo can be seen in 2010 in INCEPTION and SHUTTER ISLAND while Gibson just wrapped a rare starring role in the Jodie Foster flick THE BEAVER.