Eddie Redmayne to play Stephen Hawking in James Marsh's 'The Theory of Everything'

After giving a heartfelt, soulful performance in Tom Hooper's (overrated) Les Miserables, Eddie Redmayne is red hot right now, and pretty much has his pick of projects to choose from. Right now he's filming the Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending opposite Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, but he's being sought for another high-profile that has the potential to catapult him into Academy Award consideration.

Deadline reports that Redmayne is close to landing the role of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, a new biopic to be directed by James Marsh, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Man on Wire, Shadow Dancer, and Project NIM. The story by screenwriter Andrew McCarten will center on the relationship between the theoretical physicist and his wife. A female lead is being sought right now in hopes of production beginning in the fall.

It's the kind of role that seems destined for a major Oscar push, as Hawkins is a man afflicted with ALS, yet has never allowed the disease to slow him down. Redmayne had been circling a role in Thomas Vinterberg's Far from the Madding Crowd, but he'll likely make playing Hawking his priority now.