Leonardo DiCaprio will star and Mel Gibson has signed on to direct an untitled period drama about Viking culture, with William Monahan poised to write the script.

According to Variety, the principals confirmed the project but would not divulge many details. DiCaprio, who has long been fascinated by Viking culture, will play one in a storyline that will be as unsparing as Gibson's other period directing efforts, Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto.

"This will be an awe-inspiring story, created with some of the industry's finest cinematic talent, and I am just over the moon to be making this film with Mel, Leo and Bill," producer Graham King said in a statement.

Production is expected to begin in fall 2010.