The Bounty Hunter and 300 star Gerard Butler has described Ralph Fiennes modern adaptation of Coriolanus as “Shakespeare’s Hurt Locker”.
Butler, who stars alongside Fiennes in his directorial debut, made the comparison between the big screen version of Shakespeare’s story of war, riots and corruption to the Oscar winner at a special London screening yesterday.
He said: "I know it would be a cliche but it really is The Hurt Locker. It's Shakespeare's Hurt Locker. That's what it's like."
"It's set in modern day and feels so relevant with what the story's about. All that dialogue's been taken out and you find yourself completely engrossed."
He said: "It's true I'm not known for Shakespeare but it felt like a challenge."
James Nesbitt, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave and Ralph Fiennes
Fiennes attended the screening with Vanessa Redgrave, who gives an impressive performance as his mother, Volumnia.
He plays Roman general Coriolanus and battles on screen with Butler as his sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius.
Speaking about their fight scenes Butler said: "It was animal between us and we quickly got rid of a lot of the choreography of the fight and just went for it.
"As if you could rip out somebody's eyes and put your fist down their throat and rip out their lungs.
"It was some of the hardest filming I've done in a long time but it was kind of cool to be doing that with Ralph Fiennes."
Fiennes added: "He is very big. He was bigger and stronger than me, so it was tough. But I survived."
