THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH Is Now Simply Called… THE EAGLE

After moving the release date a gazillion times, Focus Features decided to shorten the title for THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH as well. It’s now just… THE EAGLE starring Channing Tatum, directed by Kevin Macdonald. They’re being very careful and peculiar in wording the title so they don’t get sued by that band who sang Hotel California. Ha!..

• THE EAGLE opens February 25th, 2011

The Eagle of the Ninth is set in the dangerous world of second-century Britain. In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (played by Mr. Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Mr. Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian’s Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia – to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father’s memory, and retrieve the lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth. Mr. Sutherland portrays Marcus’ uncle Aquila, who has retired in Britain; Mr. Strong is cast as Guern, an ex-soldier who holds crucial information about the Ninth.