Michael Shannon is in talks to star in Guillermo del Toro’s untitled supernatural romance for Fox Searchlight, Variety said.
The project, which has been rumored to be titled "The Shape of Water," is set in 1963 with Shannon playing the villain of the story. A mute laboratory worker, to be played by Sally Hawkins, falls in love with an amphibious man who’s being held captive.
Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer and Michael Stuhlbarg will co-star. Del Toro is directing and producing with Callum Greene, who worked with him on both "Pacific Rim" and "Crimson Peak."
Shannon stars in Jeff Nichols’ "Midnight Special," Liza Johnson’s "Elvis & Nixon" and as General Zod in Zack Snyder‘s "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." He also starred in Nichols’ interracial marriage drama "Loving" and Tom Ford‘s "Nocturnal Animals." Universal bought the rights to his drama "Frank & Lola" for $2 million at Sundance.
The news was first reported by The Wrap.
