Ralph Fiennes Leading Hallelujah! For Director Chris Addison

Actor Chris Addison has been making name for himself as a director in recent years, handling his first Hollywood film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake The Hustle which is due out this summer. He's found an interesting follow-up, and will make Hallelujah! with Ralph Fiennes starring.

Jon Croker and Nicholas Adams wrote the script, which is set in a riotous 18th Century London and Dublin. The comedy-drama follows the drink-sodden and cantankerous Handel (Fiennes) who is a forgotten man to all but his whip-smart valet. Worse still, he has lost his inspiration to compose. However, when he overhears the singing of famous actress Susannah Cibber, the composer is moved to write once again and King George II tasks him to create an oratorio to celebrate the new Irish Viceroy in Dublin.

Yet, when Handel approaches Susannah with the news, he is shocked to learn that not only does she have a fear of singing in public, she’s also on the run from her vengeful husband. The motley crew travels to Dublin only to realize that London’s gin-soaked alleys are no match for the competing, sectarian politics of Dublin’s choirs, the stupidity of English overlords, and the hypocritical morals of the day. Confronted with these odds, Handel has no choice but to defy his critics and keep going, resulting in the Messiah.

Deadline has heard it bears comparison to films such as Shakespeare In Love and will kick off shooting early next year. Fiennes is putting the finishing touches to his own latest directing effort, The White Crow and is also one of the voices for The Voyage Of Doctor Dolittle.