The film tells the story of relations between Ivan the Terrible and Metropolitan Philipp. The notorious Russian Tsar will be impersonated by the well-known musician and actor Pyotr Mamonov, who starred in Pavel Lungin’s Ostrov (The Island) (2006) and Taxi Blues (1990).
      
      “Ivan the Terrible was a very contradictory person. He executed people at daytime and spent nights praying,” – Pavel Lungin says – “In any case, it is not going to be an entertaining story”. According to the film director, “Pyotr Mamonov has got that kernel, which might become a key to the portrayal of Ivan the Terrible”.
      The script written by Alexei Ivanov from Perm will be filmed in the ancient town of Suzdal and Spaso-Efimievsky Monastery on River Nerl’.
      
      The film is expected to be released in spring 2009.
      
      Sources: news.mail.ru,
      rian.ru,
      gq.ru