Paul Giamatti is taking on a bad guy role for the movie Ironclad. According to Variety the movie is sort of a medieval take on the classic Seven Samurai formula. Actually this story first broke through multiple sources back in 2008, when Paul Giamatti first entered talks for a role in the film. It took them nearly a year but now he’s on board.

In the film, a Templar Knight leads a group of seven in defense of Rochester Castle in 13th century England. Outside the walls is Paul Giamatti as the tyrant King John, leading an army on the offensive. Already on board the Jonathan English directed film is James Purefoy as the Templar Knight. Also rumored to be playing supporting roles in the film are Megan Fox, Bob Hoskins, Colm Meaney, and the great Richard Attenborough.

Though the involvement of an evil despot named John and a crusading Templar Knight might make this sound like another twisted take on Robin Hood, it’s actually taken from a real event. The siege of Rochester really happened and the King John in question may actually, in part, be who the evil Prince John of Robin Hood folklore is based on.