“Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Lord of the Rings” star Orlando Bloom has joined the cast of “Romans,” which starts principal photography in West London next week. The pic is directed by the Shammasian Brothers (“The Pyramid Texts”) from a screenplay by Geoff Thompson.

“Romans,” which is set in present-day London, is based on true-life events. It follows the story of a middle-aged man, Malky (Bloom), still trying to come to terms with crippling insecurity, the residue of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted and idolized priest. The abuse by the priest, the withdrawal of his mother’s love and abandonment of God set Malky’s life onto a twisted trajectory of violent employment, serial self-abuse and psychotic sexual jealousy.

The narrative follows Malky as he confronts the demons that have been haunting him for 20 years and makes the decision to forgive his abuser despite aching for violent revenge.
“Romans” is produced by WSG Entertainment’s Sheetal Vinod Talwar, James Harris and Mark Lane of The Tea Shop & Film Company, and Jasper Graham of Dreamscape Films.