A Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet, Cinderella) and Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street, Casino) collaboration has been in the works for some time. If the collaboration were to happen, Scorsese would be bringing Branagh’s stage adaptation of William Shakespeare‘s MacBeth to the big screen. But given both filmmakers’ busy schedules, the film would not likely go into production for some time, at least not any time soon.

Now a new interview reveals that there is “some” progress being made, and the two are nearly closing the deal to get the film made. Hit the jump for more.

During an interview with BBC Radio’s Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review (via The Playlist), Branagh revealed that Scorsese will be directing his adaptation of Macbeth, should everything go as planned:

While a deal hasn’t been made, Branagh says they are very close:

If we are going to talk about schedules, we will have to take a look at Scorsese’s. The director is currently working on an adaptation of ShÅ«saku Endō”˜s Silence, starring Liam Neeson, Benicio Del Toro, Gael García Bernal, and Andrew Garfield. He is also attached to a number of projects that include a long-gestating Frank Sinatra biopic, written by Phil Alden Robinson. He is also attached to direct The Irishman, which will star Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino. Just this month it was rumored that Scorsese will direct a Mike Tyson biopic with Jamie Foxx starring in the lead role.

Another version of Macbeth, directed by Justin Kruzel and starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard is slated for release later this year, but because of Scorsese’s filmmaking style, Branagh hopes his version will be “very impressionistic” and “very abstract.” If that vision is true, then the film should have no problem differentiating itself from the rest of the adaptations of the Shakespearean play.

[Source: BBC’s Kermore and Mayo’s Film Review via The Playlist]