Romans in Scotland

Things are hotting up for the keenly-awaited cinematic version of Eagle of the Ninth.

Production company Focus Features have announced that the movie will open during the third quarter of 2010. A UK release can be expected thereafter.

According to their publicity, "In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (played by Channing Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian’s Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia – to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father’s memory, and retrieve the lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth. The movie also stars Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, and Tahar Rahim." Accompanied only by his British slave Esca? So no Wolf?

Also this week, a Fife newspaper, The Dunfermline Press, has revealed that local boys Combat International portrayed Rosemary Sutcliff's Seal tribesmen, right down to the shaved heads. During filming, they were treated to one of the wettest summers in Scottish history. Since AD 140?

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