LOS ANGELES, Feb 23 – Actor Michael Fassbender (Shame, X-Men: First Class) has signed on to reteam with director Ridley Scott (the upcoming Prometheus, Robin Hood) to star in The Counseler.

Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, who wrote No Country For Old Men, this thriller follows a lawyer who gets in over his head in a drug operation.

Fassbender (picture) will next be seen in Scott’s Prometheus, a sci-fi thriller and vague prequel to his Alien series, scheduled to open May 30-June 1 in France, Russia, the UK, and other European markets, followed by North America and the rest of the world. It also stars Noomi Rapace (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) and Charlize Theron (Hancock).

He will also appear in Twelve Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen (Shame, Hunger), co-starring Brad Pitt and Chiwetel Ejiofor and due in 2013.

The German-born Irish actor is also developing a film about Cuchulain, the legendary Celtic warrior, set during the 8th century, and plans to take the leading role. – AFP