Stellan Skarsgard to star in 'The Painted Bird'

Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard has been roped in to star in the screen adaptation of Polish writer Jerzy Kosinski's controversial novel '

The Painted Bird

'.


Skarsgard, who will essay the role of a soldier in the film, will be joined by German actor Udo Kier. Filming has begun on the adaptation of the controversial Holocaust story.

Petr Kotlar

, Czech child actor, will play the young Jewish boy, while actor Harvey Keitel is also in negotiations to appear in the film.

"'The Painted Bird' was a lovely book and a lovely screenplay. You are probably familiar with the story - it follows a young boy and his encounters with a lot of different people, and I am one of them," Skarsgard said.

The black-and-white film will be shot over 105 days, and a world premiere of the film is planned for May 2019.