Aussie director John Hillcoat has not had the easiest time of it lately. After well-received crime drama The Proposition, he signed on to apocalyptic book adaptation The Road, which was delayed for a year, then arrived quietly in cinemas to limited box office takings. And following that, his attempt to get prohibition drama The Promised Land made collapsed at the financing stage, even though he had a great cast lined up. Now it looks like he has a firm project at last, with an adaptation of Michael Punke’s period vengeance thriller tome The Revenant, with Christian Bale considering the lead.

Talking with Bloody Disgusting, Vacancy writer Mark L Smith confirmed that he’s writing the script, with Hillcoat attached and Bale seriously interested in the main role of real-life frontiersman Hugh Glass who, in the 1820s was left for dead by his companions following a bear attack.

Enraged by their actions, he starts out on a 3,000-mile-long mission of vengeance against his betrayers. Which makes it sound perfect for both Hillcoat and Bale, if you ask us.

Add in the fact that, according to CHUD, the film itself is the cinematic equivalent of a rescue dog, since it was originally planned as a film by Sympathy For Lady Vengeance director Park Chan-Wook, with Samuel L Jackson in the lead, only to vanish from their schedules and fall into limbo.

We’ll keep our fingers crossed that everything works out this time. But Christian, if you do finally sign on, please realise that you don’t have to actually get attacked by a bear in preparation for the role. But if you do, please stick it on YouTube...