We can almost hear the first “Michael Fassbender’s giant pens” jokes bubbling to the surface of people’s brains now, but do try to contain yourselves. He’s taking on the role of Thomas Wolfe in the long-developing film Max Perkins: Editor Of Genius.

Colin Firth will be Perkins, the renowned editor who worked with Wolfe and other literary giants to hone their books. The film chronicles their developing friendship as Wolfe’s career takes off.

Skyfall co-writer John Logan wrote the script, adapted from A. Scott Berg’s award-winning biography of Perkins. It’s been gestating for a while now, and back in 2010, Sean Penn was approached to play Perkins, with Lawrence Kasdan considering the director’s chair.

“Genius promises to be a beautifully performed, electrifying and deeply moving film. With such a strong creative team led by Michael Grandage, John Logan and with Firth and Fassbender on board, who are undoubtedly two of the finest screen actors working today, we can’t wait to introduce the film to buyers at AFM," said FilmNation's Glen Basner in a statement picked up by The Hollywood Reporter. You will be less than shocked to learn that Basner will be touting the rights to the film at the American Film Market this week.

Fassbender is at work on Terrence Malick’s latest untitled project, and will next be seen in Steve McQueen’s Twelve Years A Slave and Ridley Scott’s The Counsellor. Firth has The Railway Man and Gambit up next.