Warner Bros. buys epic viking project with TRUE BLOOD'S Alexander Skarsgard

Warner Bros. has bought an epic viking project with True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard attached to star and produce. Variety reports the that the studio bought the pitch from Atlas Entertainment. The project is using the working title of The Vanguard, and has playwright Chris Boal attached to write the script. The story follows "the adventures of two Viking warrior brothers who embark on a journey to return to Sweden after being banished to North America." Other details about the story are being kept quiet, but the tentpole project is said to be in the same league as Best Picture winners Gladiator and Braveheart.

The project is being produced by Charles Roven and Richard Suckle for Atlas along with execs Andy Horwitz and Jake Kurily. This marks the first time that Skarsgard will produce a feature, but he should feel right at home playing a Viking since he plays a vampire one on True Blood.  The actor has recently starred in such films as Universal's Battleship, the remake of Straw Dogs and Lars von Trier's Melancholia. This project sounds like a perfect fit for Skarsgard. What are your thoughts?