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Variety reports that James McAvoy and Robin Wright Penn are both set to star in “The Conspirator”, a period drama to be directed by Robert Redford.

The drama is based on events following the assassination of President Lincoln in 1865.

Wright Penn will play Mary Surratt who is the only woman in a group charged with conspiring to kill the president.

McAvoy will play a young war hero named Frederick Aiken who reluctantly defends Surratt and while doing so comes to believe that she might be innocent.

The script is written by James D. Solomon. Wright Penn can next be seen alongside Jim Carrey and Colin Firth in “A Christmas Carol” due out in November.

McAvoy’s last major role was in “Wanted” back in 2008 but he is currently working on “Gnomeo and Juliet” and an untitled Cancer Comedy.