Luca Calvani to Play Villain in THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

According to Deadline, Luca Calvani has signed on to play the villain in Warner Bros.' upcoming MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. remake.

Calvani's character is described as a "wealthy Italian shipping heir who smuggled Nazi gold at end of WWII."

Henry Cavill ("Man of Steel") stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer ("The Social Network") as Illya Kuryakin, alongside stars Alicia Vikander ("Anna Karenina"), Elizabeth Debicki ("The Great Gatsby"), Jared Harris ("Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows"), and Hugh Grant ("Cloud Atlas") as Waverly.

"Guy and I have long loved these characters, and wanted to start from scratch with our own take and create a film steeped in the 1960s for today's audiences," said Wigram. "We are particularly happy about our cast, who all bring something special to the film. Henry, Armie, Alicia and Elizabeth are among the best and most exciting actors of the next generation. In addition, we are thrilled to be working with Hugh Grant, who we have known and been fans of for many years, and Jared Harris, who did such a great job for us as Moriarty."

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo's only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

The screenplay is written by Ritchie and Wigram, who also serve as producers. John Davis ("Chronicle") and Steve Clark-Hall ("RocknRolla," the "Sherlock Holmes" films) are also producing. David Dobkin is executive producer.

Ritchie's behind-the-scenes creative team includes two-time Oscar-nominated director of photography John Mathieson ("Gladiator"), production designer Oliver Scholl ("Jumper"), editor James Herbert (the "Sherlock Holmes" films), Oscar-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston ("Lincoln") and Oscar-winning key makeup and hair designer Sarah Monzani ("Quest for Fire," upcoming "Edge of Tomorrow").

Filming will take place in England, with location filming also in Italy, in Rome and Naples.

Photo by: REX USA/Peter Brooker

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