Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down) has been signed to direct Exclusive Media Group’s Emperor: Young Caesar, the film version of The Gates of Rome, the first of Conn Iggulden’s best-selling Emperor novels.

The novel, which tells the story of a young Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus, was adapted by Oscar nominee Bill Broyles (Apollo 13) and Stephen Harrigan (Murder on the Orient Express).

Exclusive co-chairman and CEO Nigel Sinclair will produce with fellow Exclusive co-chair Guy East as well as Hollywood Gang’s Gianni Nunnari, Atmosphere Entertainment’s Mark Canton and Broyles. Nunnari and Canton are currently working together on Immortals and previously teamed on 300.

Iggulden’s Emperor series spans four novels - The Gates of Rome, The Death of Kings, The Field Of Swords and The God Of War. The first tells a rites of passage tale as the young Caesar and Brutus learn the lessons of war and love and grow into two of the greatest figures in ancient history.

“Our team at Exclusive is fascinated with Conn Iggulden’s novels and found the story of a young Caesar and Brutus to be compelling drama which demanded big screen treatment,” says Sinclair. “This is a story with global appeal and great parts for its two male leads. We are very excited about having Burr Steers, Bill Broyles and Stephen Harrigan — three impeccable storytellers themselves — bring this project to life.”

Steers is managed by Shawn Simon, represented by Todd Feldman & Jay Baker at CAA, and his attorneys are Marcy Morris and Darren Trattner of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.

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