'The Idiot' Lures Jackson Rathbone and Erika Christensen

'The Idiot' Lures Jackson Rathbone and Erika Christensen

I hope you guys have been doing your English homework -- and no, CliffsNotes do not count.

Jackson Rathbone and Erika Christensen have signed on the dotted line to star in "The Idiot," based on the novel of the same name by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Rathbone's most famous for being creepy Jasper Hale in the "Twilight" franchise, so tackling the lead role (we're assuming) of Prince Myshkin in Dostoyevsky's tome is definitely a big switcheroo for the young actor. Myshkin is described as a Christ-like figure, too innocent for the high society of St. Petersburg and its debauched sexytimes and social wheelings and dealings.

He's caught in a bizarre love triangle between two women, one young and innocent and one a naughty lady indeed. Which will Christensen play? We're gunning for Nastasya, a stunner who does whatever the eff she wants and drives all the men cuckoo with lust.

Variety is characterizing the flick as a thriller and describes Myshkin as "a man of pure spirit who thinks he can save the world but is caught between a wildly beautiful and fragile woman, a woman he is falling in love with and a friend who is trying to destroy him." It's not clear who will be adapting it for the screen, but it sounds like director Paul Williams and producer Donald Kushner will try and make it appeal to a broader audience than, you know, people who read Russian literature. They're currently sniffing around the Croisette for buyers.

According to Deadline, another flick starring Rathbone that's being shopped around Cannes is "Ride," which will be directed by and star Helen Hunt. This romcom is about a mom who lets loose when she follows her college son -- ostensibly Rathbone -- to Cali where she gets her groove back. Does she surf? Didn't she learn her lesson from "Soul Surfer?" Jeez!

Frankly, we're still disappointed that Rathbone ditched the "Lords of Chaos" adaptation, where he was set to play infamous black metal musician Varg Vikernes. Vikernes, who was also known by the much more metal name Count Grishnackh, was convicted of burning three churches and killing one of his bandmates; he's now out on parole. Rathbone would look smokin' hot in some corpse paint!

Source => Next Movie / Via => JRathboneFB