The Merchant Of Venice: According to Production Weekly, Jeremy Irons will replace Ian McKellen in Michael Radford's bigscreen adaptation of The Merchant Of Venice becuase shooting delays have caused conflicts with McKellen's schedule.

The $30 million film, originally scheduled to roll in September, is set to start shooting on November 23 in Luxembourg.

Shakespeare's classic play is the story of a rich merchant, Bassanio, in the 16th century Venice who borrows money from a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, to help a friend woo a beautiful heiress, Portia. But the merchant faces mortal peril when he can't repay the debt.

Al Pacino stars as Shylock opposite newcomer Lynn Collins as Portia.