Paul Bettany joins 'The Young Victoria' cast

Paul Bettany will play Lord Melbourne in the star-studded historical drama 'The Young Victoria'

The cast for forthcoming period piece 'The Young Victoria' is filling out nicely, with Paul Bettany and Thomas Kretschmann joining Emily Blunt, Jim Broadbent and Miranda Richardson in the historical drama.

Written by Julian Fellowes ('Gosford Park') and directed by Jean-Marc Valleee ('C.R.AZ.Y.'), the film stars Blunt as the young Queen Victoria and chronicles her rise to power, her romance with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) and the early turbulent years of her reign.

Bettany will play the charming Lord Melbourne, Victoria’s closest advisor, while Kretschmann has been cast as King Leopold of Belgium. Elsewhere Broadbent plays King William while Richardson will appear the Duchess of Kent.

'The Young Victoria' commenced principal photography last week and should hit screens by the end of next year.

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