Ralph Fiennes believes that the themes in the play Coriolanus are still very relevant in today's society.
The actor is set to make his directorial debut with Corialanus, which sees the Shakespeare tale adapted for the big screen.
Fiennes also stars in the movie alongside Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain.
Speaking to MSN Movies the actor said: "I played it on stage about 10 years ago and it made a very deep impression on me. it's a play that unquestionably always has resonance with the times we're in, particularly now with so much uncertainty in the world - social upheaval, political upheaval, war, combat and the constant tension between the nature of leadership and the voice of the people.
"For me it really seemed to combine a continually resonant political thriller with a Greek tragedy at the centre of it."
Fiennes has already enjoyed huge box office success this summer with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, in which he reprised the role of Voldermort for the final time.
He has also completed work on Clash of the Titans 2 and Great Expectation, in which he is set to play Magwitch.
Coriolanus is released 20th January 2012.
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