Keira Knightley will join Anthony Hopkins to star in another adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear.’ The $35 million project was announced at Cannes and will focus on the epic battles, according to the filmmakers. Gwyneth Paltrow is rumored to play Knightley’s big sister.

The movie is one of the many ‘King Liar’ adaptations. Channel 4 is currently producing a TV version with Ian McKellen, based on the critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production. This version contained a much discussed nude scene by McKellen, which will be cut out for TV however.

Hoping not to lose anyone in the deal making process, Gandalf and Gollum both already agreed to do the next Hobbit movie. In an interview with theonering.net, director Guillermo Del Toro said “I had the most charming meeting with Sir Ian, and all bureaucracy pending, he’s on board, as is Andy Serkis. [...] It is our intention that we will not lose any of the key elements.“

Considering Bilbo Baggins is the main character of the ‘The Hobbit’ book, Ian Holm might be getting the best deal out of the two movies. While the contracts for the first three ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies were probably signed before the movies got shot, the potential of the ‘The Hobbit’ movies is already known. It’s like asking an extra figure for the payment of a sequel to a box office hit.

But the audience might not mind someone else playing Bilbo Baggins as much as someone else playing Gandalf. In a couple of months we’ll know if someone was getting a little too greedy.