Kiefer Sutherland will play the villain in Pompeii

Paul W.S. Anderson’s swords and sandals actioner Pompeii has bagged itself a high profile villain, with Kiefer Sutherland in advanced talks to play the film’s primary antagonist.

Set in the titular city during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the film will follow Game Of Thrones star Kit Harrington, as a slave who falls in love with his master’s daughter (Emily Browning).

Sadly for our young lovers, she’s been promised to a corrupt Roman senator, which is where Sutherland will step in. He’s also keeping Harrington’s best mate locked up in a Roman dungeon, just for extra boo-hiss value.

It sounds a tiny bit like three different films (star-crossed romance meets revenge drama meets chaotic disaster movie) smashed together, but the impressive cast has got our interest good and piqued.


Directed by Anderson and co-starring Jared Harris as Harrington’s master, Pompeii will open in the UK in 2014, with a specific release date to be confirmed.

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.