Dench steps into Branagh's Italian Shoes

After jostling for space on screen in My Week with Marilyn, Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh are set to reunite for an adaptation of Henning Mankell's novel Italian Shoes.

Brannagh, who played a director – Laurence Olivier – in Marilyn, will step behind the camera for his version of the Swedish author's story. He hopes to cast Anthony Hopkins as Fredrik Welin, a retired orthopaedic surgeon who retreats to an isolated island, only to be forced back into human contact when an old girlfriend (Dench) comes to visit.

The film is "tailor-made" for Dench and Hopkins, according to Branagh. "The nuance, delicacy and flavour is so based on the perfect casting," he told Daily Variety. "[This casting] takes advantage of my long relationship with the pair of them."

Branagh has given Dench her marks before. She played Mistress Quickly in his directorial debut, Henry V, and later starred in Branagh's version of Hamlet. Dench in turn directed Branagh in Look Back in Anger, an adaptation of John Osborne's celebrated play that also starred Emma Thompson. Hopkins appeared in Branagh's last film, Thor, as the Nordic god Odin, ruler of Asgard.