En garde: "Evil" director tackles 3D "Musketeers"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Paul W.S. Anderson is going from the future to the past.

The filmmaker known for the "Resident Evil" series and "Alien vs. Predator" is bringing the classic tale of "The Three Musketeers" back to the big screen, this time in 3D.

The 1844 Alexandre Dumas tale concerns d'Artagnan, a young man who leaves home to become a member of the fighting force of the French king's royal household. Along the way, he makes friends with three of the force's best -- and most disgraced -- members: Athos, Porthos and Aramis, whose creed of friendship is "All for one and one for all!"

Anderson penned the script with Andrew Davies, whose credits include the films "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "The Tailor of Panama" and a television adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice." The two have known each other since their days at England's University of Warwick, when Anderson was a student and Davies a tutor. Anderson sought out Davies, knowing the project needed a script that was strong in character and romance to complement the action.

The intent is for the film to have a contemporary feel, though that does not mean ditching the period setting.

"We are definitely modernizing 'The Three Musketeers' without compromising the fun of shooting a period piece," said Anderson, who hopes to shoot in France and Germany. "But in our film, corsets and feathered hats don't take center stage. Our version is rich in eye-popping action, romance and adventure."

The aim is to shoot the film next year and release it in 2011. Anderson is producing with Impact Pictures partner Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer of Constantin Film. Constantin, which partnered with Anderson on the "Resident Evil" series, will finance the production.

"Musketeers" has proved to be a potent tale to recount on the big screen, with versions going back as far as 1903. The more noteworthy adaptations include the 1948 version, with Gene Kelly, Lana Turner and Vincent Price, and Richard Lester's 1973 swashbuckler starring Michael York, Richard Chamberlain, Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch and Faye Dunaway.

In 1993, a Disney production starred Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland and Chris O'Donnell. That film also boasted a No. 1 single, "All for Love," performed by Bryan Adams, Sting and Rod Stewart.

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)