FROM THE NEWS ARCHIVES OF CINEMA CONFIDENTIAL

Hugo Weaving replaces James Purefoy in "V is for Vendetta"
POSTED ON 05/09/05 AT 9:00 A.M.
BY ETHAN AAMES

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Hugo Weaving will reunite with the Wachowski Brothers and producer Joel Silver on "V is for Vendetta," replacing James Purefoy who has left production for unknown reasons. Weaving will play the vigilante character known as V opposite Natalie Portman.

"V is for Vendetta" is based on the Alan Moore graphic novel of the same name and tells the story of "an alternate future in which Germany wins WWII and Great Britain becomes a fascist state. A terrorist freedom fighter known only as 'V' begins a violent guerilla campaign to destroy those who've succumbed to totalitarianism, and recruits a young woman he's rescued from the secret police to join him."

The Wachowski Brothers ("The Matrix" trilogy) penned the screenplay, where James McTeigue is directing the feature. Warner Bros. will release the film November 4th.