Derek Jacobi can play a "depraved" duke

Derek Jacobi is lined up to play a villainous duke, and Eddie Izzard will play Lussorioso, his son.

Writing in a weekly diary about the film's production for BBC Films Online, Cox described Lussurioso as the "second most nefarious character of the film".

He also described Derek Jacobi as having the ability to play an "exceptionally depraved and threatening Duke".

Illustrious

Liverpool born and bred, Alex Cox's film making career includes Repo Man, Sid and Nancy, and Straight to Hell.

He has also written a number of screenplays and directed documentaries including Kurosawa, The Last Emperor, and Emmanuelle, A Hard Look, for Channel Four.

Eddie Izzard, who will play the role of Lussurioso

He is however best known for presenting the BBC's late night film showcase, Moviedrome from 1987 to 1994.

The cast is also set to include Margi Clarke, Christine Tremarco, Christopher Ecclestone, Tony Booth, Dexter Fletcher and Drew Schofield - aka Johnny Rotten from Sid and Nancy.

The film is being part funded by the Film Council's new cinema fund, which Cox has described as the "weird film division".

With a plot that involves the south of England and northern France being destroyed by a giant comet Cox has promised that the film will indeed be "weird enough".

Shooting is scheduled to begin in July.

Alex Cox's diary can be read weekly on BBC Films Online.