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Laurence Fishburne may be most well-known as Morpheus from The Matrix, but the actor refuses to be typecast. He has accepted the title role in The Alchemist, the moving story of an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who meets an alchemist in his travels as he searches for treasure. The film will be based on the best-selling Brazilian novel, originally released in 1988 and written by author Paulo Coelho.

Fishburne will take on three roles for this production, directing and producing in addition to starring in it. The film languished in development hell for years before being plucked off the pile by The Weinstein Company. The film will begin production either next spring or summer.

The novel is one of most successful pieces of literature in history, having moved over 65 million copies in 150 countries since its first printing over 20 years ago, boding well for the adaptation's success.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
05.19.08