Hugo Weaving is joining the cast of "V for Vendetta," playing the title character V opposite Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, Rupert Graves and Stephen Fry reports Reuters.

Weaving replaced British hunk James Purefoy, who originally was cast in the role but has left the production. James McTeigue is directing, Joel Silver & the Wachowski siblings are producing the futuristic thriller, which is under way in Berlin but will soon move to London.

Set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, "V for Vendetta" tells the story of a mild-mannered woman named Evey (Portman) who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked vigilante known only as V, who ignites a revolution.

Thanks to 'Carrie'