Djimon Hounsou will become the angel of death in Paradise Lost

Alex Proyas’ PARADISE LOST has found its angel of death in Djimon Hounsou.

Hounsou will join Bradley Cooper and Benjamin Walker in the story about an, “epic war in heaven between archangels Lucifer (Cooper) and Michael (Walker), including the latter’s role in Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. Hounsou will play Abdiel, the angel of death.”

Proyas spoke about the characters and the task of adapting the John Milton epic earlier this month:

“I’ve sometimes thought that only an insane person would want to make this movie, because it’s visually audacious and has to live up to a classic poem that is so beloved. I don’t think the visuals could have been done justice until now, which is the great fun of being a film director in this modern age of visual effects. Despite all those possibilities, the characters are what’s most important. His deal isn’t closed yet, but I think there’s a wonderful duality about Ben’s persona, this combination of great strength and perfect innocence that works so well for Michael. And Bradley is the most charming guy you’ll ever meet, with this extraordinary charisma. Lucifer was the brightest and smartest of the archangels, and even as he descended into evil and evolved into Satan, he’s not just some black-and-white villain. Bradley brings extraordinary depth to that journey.”

Production on the film begins early next year.