Movie News

Viggo Mortensen to be new Dances With Wolves

Fri 09 May 9:37 AM

It is 18 years since Kevin Costner swept the board at the Oscars with his Civil War epic - now apparently it's high time for a sequel.

Author of the original novel and screenplay. Michael Blake, penned his follow-up The Holy Road in 2001 and a new movie is now in the offing.

Costner, however, in a rare display of publicity-shyness, has turned down the chance to reprise the role of John Dunbar. The part of the rebel Union lieutenant now looks like it could be taken by modern all-action hero Viggo Mortensen.

Producers are believed to have asked Costner to take on his most famous character once more, and only turned to The Lord Of The Rings star as their second choice. With the film catching up on Dunbar's story 11 years on from where the first movie left off, and with original stars Graham Greene, Mary McDonnell and Wes Studi said to be signed up already, the youthful-looking Mortensen might have to spend a fair amount of time in make-up.

Behind the camera on the new movie will be Free Willy director Simon Wincer and production could start as early as next year. Another Sioux assault on the Academy Awards could well be in the offing...