MUMBAI: Joel Edgerton is in talks to star opposite Christian Bale in Ridley Scott's Biblical epic Exodus

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The actor, who cemented his in-demand status after a series of high-profile roles including Zero Dark Thirty and The Great Gatsby, would play the Egyptian ruler Ramses in the 20th Century Fox film that is moving toward a September start date. Bale is onboard to portray Moses.

Exodus will shoot in Spain, Morocco and England.

The project had picked up steam earlier this year when Steve Zaillian came aboard as scribe. Adam Cooper and Bill Collage penned a previous draft.

Peter Chernin, who bought the project as a pitch, is producing alongside Scott. Both Chernin and Scott are based at Fox, as is Zaillian and Garrett Basch's film rights.

Edgerton, whose credits include the critically acclaimed crime drama Animal Kingdom, broke out in Gavin O'Connor's 2011 MMA drama Warrior. He recently stepped into O'Connor's Jane Got a Gun opposite Natalie Portman. The Aussie actor also is onboard to star opposite Michael Shannon in Jeff Nichols' sci-fi film Midnight Special at Warner Bros.