Actor Gary Oldman is readying his next directorial project, a biopic on film pioneer Eadweard Muybridge entitled Flying Horse. Ralph Fiennes and Benedict Cumberbatch are being eyed to star, although no deals have been confirmed yet.

Eadweard Muybridge was a photographer who helped settle a bet for California governor Leland Stanford in the late 1800s, who believed that a horse had all four hooves off the ground while running in full stride, although this could not be detected by the human eye. Using an array of 12 cameras he helped prove Stanford right, paving the way for the motion picture projector and the film industry as we know it. However, Eadweard Muybridge is also famous for murdering reputed theater critic Major Henry Larkyns, who was having an affair with his wife, Fiona. This biopic will focus on this love triangle, with Ralph Fiennes being eyed to star as Eadweard Muybridge and Benedict Cumberbatch circling the Major Henry Larkyns role.

In addition to writing and directing, Gary Oldman may also play the smaller role of Dennis Spencer, the district attorney who defended Eadweard Muybridge in his murder trial. Gary Oldman's manager, Douglas Urbanski, is producing, with shooting tentatively scheduled to begin next year, if financing comes together.

Gary Oldman made his feature directorial debut with 1998's Nil by Mouth.