News

The film will include Oscar-nominated actress Emily Watson as well as other British stars David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch and theatre actor Jeremy Irvine in the lead role. Other European actors due to appear in the film include French-born star Niels Arestrup, who appeared in acclaimed films The Diving Bell and The Butterfly and A Prophet.

The story, set during World War I, will also feature German actor David Kross, who co-starred in The Reader. The film of War Horse is due to be released in August 2011, with the movie-maker expected to begin shooting in the UK later this summer.

War Horse, which tells the story of a horse caught up in the carnage of World War I, was originally a children's book written by Michael Morpurgo. The film version has been adapted by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis from both the original story and stage adaptation.

The play was first seen at the National in 2007 before transferring to its current home at the New London Theatre. It was announced earlier this year that the play will transfer to Broadway in November 2011.

The Queen, Prince Philip and Prince William are among the many who have seen the show, produced in collaboration with the Handspring Puppet Company.