He's played a villain before, but never while wearing a crown. Actor Paul Giamatti just signed to play the tyrannical King John in the Jonathan English-helmed Ironclad, a period action movie about a group of Knights Templar who defend Rochester Castle from a siege by the king's army in 13th-century England.
Ironclad is being produced by Rick Benattar and will feature James Purefoy in the lead role. The script is by English and Erick Kastel. Production is expected to begin in October.