While Gary Oldman has tangled with – and played – some weird creatures in his time, his latest job is not, despite the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter-style title, the story of a courageous domestic servant fighting terrifying creatures. No, indie pic Monster Butler is actually the true story of a bisexual jewel thief / con man / serial killer. And Oldman’s not alone in signing on: Dominic Monaghan, Malcolm McDowell and Joanne Whalley are also aboard.
McDowell has the central role, playing Archibald Hall (known at one point as Roy Fontaine, as an homage to Joan), who started as a petty thief in his teens, and later ramped up to jewel heists and murder, all while working as a butler (hence the title). Until he died in 2002, he was the oldest person serving a whole life sentence in prison.
Oldman will be Wiggy, a taxidermist and early acquaintance of Hall, who battles his own anger issues while helping the man out with some of his lesser crimes. Monaghan is on as David Wright, one of the major relationships in Hall’s life, who eventually attempts to blackmail his lover.
Douglas Raith is directing from Peter Bellwood’s script, and it all kicks off shooting next month in Scotland and London.
Oldman will next be seen in a little film called The Dark Knight Rises (out July 20) and John Hillcoat’s **Lawless **(released September 7). He’s also just signed on to the Robocop remake.