Gary Oldman and Dominic Monaghan join Malcolm McDowell in Monster Butler

Gary Oldman ( Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy , The Dark Knight Rises ) and Dominic Monaghan ( The Lord of the Rings Trilogy , Lost ) will join Malcolm McDowell in the upcoming true story of jewel-thief, con-man and serial killer Ray Fontaine (AKA Archibald Hall).

Director Douglas Rath will extend his 2010 short film of the same name which also starred McDowell, who will be reprising the lead role, and will also be co-producing.

Oldman will play a taxidermist (and one-time business partner of Fontaine) who suffers from anger issues - suggesting a more fiery performance than his cool turn as John Le Carre’s George Smiley – while Monaghan will play a fellow inmate and lover of the bisexual con-man (a far cry from a Hobbit of the Shire).

Monster Butler ’s title alludes to Fontaine’s nickname, given to him after committing crimes while working in service to members of the British aristocracy. Fontaine was a criminal from the age of 15 and went on to become the oldest man serving a life sentence until his death in 2002.

It is likely to be a fairly low-key production and Rath has focused primarily until now on editing reality TV in the US, but with the talented cast and compelling true story, this is one we'll be keeping an eye on.

As of yet, there is no set release date but Monster Butler should be in cinemas from 2013.