Michael Fassbender to star as epic Celtic legend, Cú Chulainn, in new blockbuster.

Feb. 20, 2012 - PRLog -- The Irish born actor is currently hot property in Hollywood, and after shedding more than 14kg to play Bobby Sands in Hunger, he’s expected to bulk up to play the superhuman Celtic hero.

He has teamed up with Public Enemies screenwriter, Ronan Bennett, to develop the epic saga entitled ‘Irish Myths’. The Irish duo’s production company, Finn McCool Films, will produce the movie.

The feature movie will be based on the central character of the Ulster Cycle which dates back to 8th century Ireland. The cycle is an enchanting account of old Irish legends and myths that focuses on the Ulaid tribe, headed by King Conchobar, and their relentless conflict with Queen Mebh of Connaught.

Cú Chulainn is considered to be son of the god, Lug, and this is where his semi-divine ancestry comes from.  Cú Chulainn’s superhuman strength is first flaunted in the early chapters of the cycle when he kills Culann’s vicious hound. Setanta was Cú Chulainn’s birth name, but after slaying the hound, he offered to guard Culann’s land and was given the name Cú Chulainn; meaning hound of Culann.

The Ulster Cycle is a thrilling saga or battle, loyalty and power, and offers us a glimpse into the life of Ireland before the arrival of the Celts. Just like Greek mythology, no tale would be complete without tragedy, and the love affair between Cú Chulainn and Emer will certainly pull on the heart strings.

Michael Fassbender is currently starring in ‘A Dangerous Method’ and can been seen later this year in Ridley Scott’s, ‘Prometheus’. It’s interesting to note that one of Cú Chulainn’s greatest faults was that he was too beautiful - an appropriate character for Fassbender to be playing!

Cú Chulainn remains one of Ireland’s most celebrated heroes to this day and a bronze statue of Cú Chulainn is proudly displayed in the General Post Office in Dublin in commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising for Irish independence.

Here at Hibernia Jewelry, we consider Cú Chulainn to be equally as symbolic to our Irish culture as the shamrock or the trinity knot. For that reason we decided to include engravings of the hound on our exquisite jewelry collection, Symbols of Ireland.