WARNING:A portion of this interview mentions a few plot points from The Eagle.

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What led to the decision to have American actors play the Roman roles?

There may be a resistance to the idea.

Do you think the American audience will like being associated with the Roman Empire?

I dont think people look in the mirror and see themselves quite how other people see them.

It takes a bit of getting used to, but hopefully you could see it works.

Whats the core appeal of Rosemary Sutcliffs original book?

Why did you choose that to make, rather than an original story?

Because we fell in love with it, and both Kevin and I are passionate about it.

If somebody said, Make Gladiator 2 it wouldnt have been this.

This speaks to us in a different way than, say,300.

Its not a big stylish action film.

Its, hopefully, got a bit more depth, although its quite a simple story.

How can you be loyal to someone whose soldiers killed your family?

So, we wanted to show both sides, and by the end, Marcus is questioning his values.

But the short answer is we both love the story!

When did you first acquire the rights?

A long time ago, although I have been doing other things in the meantime.

I think I acquired the rights in 1996.

In which case, a documentary filmmaker would be the best person to do that.

Ive just committed to direct Brad Pitt inState Of Play.

Will you wait for me?

The film industry isnt an industry, really.

You have to have passion for your projects or theres no point.

What was the thinking behind the level of violence?

Did you decide to go for a 12A?

The contract we made between us and the studio is that wed let the story tell us.

So, the beheadings and the slitting of the two boys throats are there.

In retrospect, I think its a worse film for having cut those bits out.

With regards to casting, who was first cast?

We cast Channing [Tatum] first.

The studio always needs a level of marketing to reassure them in the film.

In the book, Marcus is written as 18.

In the script, we made him 24, as we thought nobody 18 is famous anymore.

you’re able to tell whoever played that role had to be in it one hundred percent.

It was tremendously hard to play, and I think you get a flavour of that.

Hes the most wholehearted person you could imagine and amazingly talented.

So, we cast him and then looked for Esca [played by Jamie Bell].

And Mark Strong [Guern], well, every film has to have Mark Strong.

A really amazing guy and very different from both his parts.

Hes the sweetest person you could ever meet, very French.

He had a little David Copperfield hat, long hair and a big scarf, looking very French.

Im going to kill him and then gently put him down into the water.

So, hes clever about things like that.

Wow, you ask the big question at the end!

I wouldnt have dissolved the Film Council.

Its ironic that their last act was financingThe Kings Speech,because nobody else would.

So, that tells a story.

All of the Lottery finance is going to be carried forward, however.

Overall, I think its in a good place.

Its very hard to get money for films and thats as it should be.

It ensures the films that get made have some commerciality, and that somebodys passionate about it.

So, I think the quality of those that do get made is high.

We have amazing actors and really talented current BAFTA and Oscar nominees.

Its always up and down, but you have to positive.

Duncan Kenworthy, thank you very much.