Salford born film director Mike Leigh will be following up his enormous success with Mr Turner by making a film based on the Peterloo Massacre.
The subject really couldn't be more up his cobbled street if it tried but, for anyone unfamiliar with this important moment in history, the Peterloo Massacre happened in 1819 at St Peter's Field in Manchester. About 80,000 people had gathered there, mainly working class families, to peacefully protest about their lack of representation in Parliament following extreme economic hardships faced particularly in the North. But the authorities sent in the troops to disperse the crowds and, on horseback and with sabres drawn, the cavalry killed several people and injured up to 500 more.
It became a defining moment in British politics and helped to bring about considerable social reform. Not that that helped the dead protesters...
In 2013, Manchester International Festival presented Maxine Peake performing Shelley's 'The Mask of Anarchy' in Albert Hall, a poem dedicated to those who protested and died, and to the movement towards social justice itself.
Leigh is no stranger to dealing with social issues or real life people and events. With films like 'Secrets and Lies', 'High Hopes', 'Naked' and 'Vera Drake' to his name, he's probably the best director we have to tackle the subject.
There's a plaque commemorating The Peterloo Massacre at the former Free Trade Hall, now the Radisson Hotel.
Peterloo Massacre plaque in Manchester