Conroy, Ludwig also star

Ian McShane has played some dark characters in the past, but he'll play a mentor figure in "The Dark Is Rising."

According to Variety, the Golden Globe-winning "Deadwood" star will topline 20th Century Fox and Walden Media's adaptation of the Susan Cooper young adult classic. Also joining the David Cunningham-directed fantasy epic are Frances Conroy ("Six Feet Under") and Alexander Ludwig ("MXP: Most Xtreme Primate").

Production on "The Dark Is Rising" will begin next month in Romania.

The story focuses on a boy (Ludwig) who discovers when he's 11 that he's the last of the Old Ones, immortals entrusted with saving the world from the forces of darkness.

McShane will play Merriman Lyon, an Old One who assists our hero.

Although he's waiting to reprise his role as Al Swearengen in a "Deadwood" telefilm, McShane hasn't been sitting around twiddling his thumbs. His 2006 features included "Scoop" and "We Are Marshall," while he'll be seen in "Hot Rod" and "Case 39" in 2007, along with vocal turns in "Shrek the Third" and, reportedly, "The Golden Compass."