The Weinstein Company is understood to be about to close a domestic deal on the Shakespeare adaptation that will star Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.

Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films are producing Macbeth and previously collaborated with Harvey Weinstein on Oscar winner The King’s Speech.

Justin Kurzel will direct from an adapted screenplay by Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff.

Principal photography is set to commence in January 2014 in the UK. See-Saw developed the celebrated drama about power and ambition alongside Film4. 

StudioCanal will serve as majority financier with Film4 and handles international sales and will distribute directly in the UK, France and Germany.

Fassbender will star in the lead alongside Cotillard as Lady Macbeth. Natalie Portman had previously been attached to play the latter role.

Screendaily was the first to break the news about the project last April.