Ewan McGregor to star as famed British mountaineer George Mallory in new Doug Liman movie Everest
The story of famed British mountaineer George Mallory, who tried to become the first man to scale Mount Everest, is being brought to life on the big screen.
Ewan McGregor has signed on to play Mallory who died near the summit of the world's highest mountain in June 1924 at age 37.
The movie is a long in the works passion project for director Doug Liman, helmer of The Bourne Identity, and is set to start filming in the UK and Italy in early 2022, Variety reported Wednesday.
New role: Ewan McGregor has signed on to star as famed English mountaineer George Mallory in the Doug Liman movie Everest, Variety reported on Wednesday
Everest is the latest high profile project for McGregor, 50, who can be seen as flamboyant fashion designer Halston in a Netflix mini series.
The Scottish actor is filming the Disney+ Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi.
He'll be joined on screen by fellow Scot, Sam Heughan, 47, the star of Highlander.
Also on board is English actor Mark Strong, 57, who can currently to be seen opposite Emma Stone in Disney's Cruella.
Co-stars: McGregor's fellow Scot, Highlander star Sam Heughan (left) has come on board as Australian climber George Finch, while English actor Mark Strong, right, will portray Arthur Hinks of the Royal Geographic Society
Strong has been tapped to play Arthur Hinks of the Royal Geographic Society who recruited Mallory to lead the 1921 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition.
In 1922, Mallory led a second expedition which included Australian George Finch, to be portrayed by Heughan.
Finch was a pioneer in the use of oxygen tanks for high-altitude climbing.
While the 1922 venture saw Mallory's team reach a record altitude without the use of supplemental oxygen, they failed to make it to the summit.
Quest: Mallory led three expeditions in the 1920s in a bid to become the first to scale the world's highest mountain and ensure the ensuing glory for post-World War I Britain
Eminent geographer: Mallory was recruited by Hinks to lead the 1921 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. Mallory led a second expedition in 1922 and a third in 1924
Australian mountaineer: Finch, a pioneer in the use of supplemental oxygen at high altitudes, joined Mallory for his second expedition (pictured) but was left out of the team in 1924
Two years later, Mallory set out again at the urging of Hinks only this time without Finch.
He and climbing partner Andrew Irvine were seen for the last time approaching the top of the mountain before disappearing into cloud.
Their fate remained a mystery until 1999 when climber Conrad Anker stumbled across Mallory's body that had been preserved by snow and ice.
It's still a matter for debate as to whether or not he and Irvine managed to make it to the summit of Everest before they perished.
Tragedy: Mallory (pictured back row second from left) and his climbing partner Andrew Irvine (pictured back row far left) were seen for the last time approaching the top of Everest before disappearing into cloud in June 1924. Their fate remained a mystery until 1999 when climber Conrad Anker stumbled across Mallory's body that had been preserved by snow and ice
It would take another 29 years for the mountain finally to be conquered.
New Zealander Edmund Hillary planted a flag on Everest's summit in 1953 after making it to the top with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
Liman, himself an avid mountaineer, began exploring making a film about Mallory back in 2012 and British actor Tom Hardy was attached to the role of Mallory.
The now greenlit project will be based on Jeffrey Archer's novel The Paths of Glory.
Helmer: The movie is a long in the works passion project for director Doug Liman. whose credits include The Bourne Identity and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Filming on Everest is set to start in early 2022 in the UK and Italy
