Alex Proyas turns Gerard Butler and Geoffrey Rush into 'Gods of Egypt'

The two actors will join Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ("Game of Thrones") on the set of the forthcoming fantasy film inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology.

Gerard Butler, the Australian actor who saved the US in "White House Down," is interested in playing the villain in the next film from director Alex Proyas ("I, Robot"), Deadline.com reports. Butler is in talks to play Set, a conniving god who plots against Ra, the Egyptian sun god. Scottish actor Geoffrey Rush ("The King's Speech") is in negotiations for the latter role, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will play Horus, the film's protagonist, who will join forces with Hathor, the goddess of love, and with a mortal thief to avenge the death of his father, Osiris, who was killed by Set, according to Egyptian mythology.

No word has surfaced on filming or release dates for "Gods of Egypt," which will be produced by Summit Entertainment.