If you ever need someone to play a Nazi, Kenneth Branagh is your man. After donning the swastika for both Swing Kids and Conspiracy, he will play a German general in Bryan Singer’s World War II drama Valkyrie, according to Variety. Something about this Irish Shakespearean actor/director makes people think Third Reich. It’s a gift.

Singer’s film, which was written by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) and Nathan Alexander, will star Tom Cruise. It covers the true story of a group of German officers who attempted to assassinate Adolph Hitler in July 1944. Branagh will play a mentor to the character played by Cruise. Other rumored or confirmed participants are Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Stephen Fry.

I’ve always liked Branagh. His Henry V got me interested in Shakespeare after both high school and college failed to spark anything on the Bard. He’s done the accent a few times, so that should be no problem, and it looks like a stellar cast with a top-notch director. Hopefully this will be out sometime in 2008.