Malta filming report on Trojan War big-budget film

The film industry trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, has reported that a "big budget project, based on Homer's epic account of the Trojan War is set to begin shooting in Malta, the UK and Morocco in spring, with an eye toward a 2004 release".

However, the Malta Film Commission said it was too early to confirm anything at this stage.

The Warner Bros Picture/Village Roadshow Pictures movie, Troy, stars Brad Pitt as Achilles and up-and-coming Australian actor Eric Bana as Hector, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Bana is soon to be seen in the title role of Universal Pictures' upcoming film, The Hulk.

Troy is being directed by Wolfgang Petersen, while David Benioff wrote the script for the adventure, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Meanwhile, the filming in Malta of the USA Cable TV mini-series, Helen of Troy, again on the Trojan War and the beautiful Helen, finished on Monday after a "successful" three-month shoot at Fort Ricasoli and other locations, the commission said.

Helen of Troy is to be aired in the US over two nights in March.