Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman are to star in Elsinore.

The pair have boarded the cast of the film that is based on the life of the Chariots of Fire actor Ian Charleson, who starred in a London theatre production of Hamlet in his final role before his death from AIDS-related causes at the age of 40 in 1990.

The Dig filmmaker Simon Stone is directing the picture, with Scott serving as a producer alongside Andrea Occhipinti and Gaby Tana of Magnolia Mae and Pete Shilaimon and Mickey Liddell for LD Entertainment.

Elsinore has been written by Stephen Beresford, who will also be executive producing the flick with Ethan Silverman.

The film will begin shooting in the UK on January 5 and is set to feature an ensemble of British actors who will appear alongside Andrew and Olivia.

A synopsis describes the picture as a "powerful, deeply moving and inspiring true story of the actor Ian Charleson who faced incredible odds while preparing to give the performance of his life in Hamlet at the National Theatre in London".

Scott will play the role of Charleson - the Scottish actor known for portraying Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire and priest Charlie Andrews in the 1982 film Gandhi - with Colman starring as his doctor.

Charleson was diagnosed with HIV in 1986 and passed away from AIDS-related causes four years later. In the year before his passing, he performed Hamlet at the National Theatre and was described as the "perfect" Prince of Denmark by Sir Ian McKellen.

The title Elsinore refers to Kronborg Castle in Denmark, the setting for William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet.

Stone said: "This is one of the most exciting projects I've ever been involved in.

"Stephen Beresford's screenplay is both heartbreaking and hilarious, a beautiful ode to the power of community in times of crisis. Andrew Scott is one of the greatest actors of his generation, as Ian Charleson was: it's momentous casting."

Andrew has appeared in films such as All of Us Strangers and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and credits acting for helping him to overcome a childhood speech impediment.

The 49-year-old star told The Times magazine: "I had a speech impediment as a child and acting helped me be less self-conscious and shy.

"I had a strong lisp and in elocution lessons I practised improvisation and verbalising phrases like, 'She sells seashells on the seashore.'

"I still find acting helpful."

The Sherlock actor also revealed that he feels "relief" whenever he finishes working on a project, as he is ready for a different challenge afterwards.

Andrew said: "Finishing a project is a relief. I don't find it difficult to let characters go. I love the idea of doing an action movie then doing a bit of Shakespeare and then doing a radio play.

"That's what I kind of get a buzz from. And that seems to have been the pattern of my career.

"It feels a complete privilege to be an actor, and although it can be difficult when you don't really know where you're going to be next, I've grown to love that about it. The uncertainty. Will I ever write something? Never say never."