UPDATE (05/17/13): Director Thomas Vinterberg has confirmed to reporters at the Cannes Film Festival that Mulligan and Schoenaerts are now set for his film in the roles of Bathsheba and Gabriel Oak, respectively. Filming begins this fall in the UK.

Nearly seven months on, Carey Mulligan is still in talks to join Thomas Vinterberg‘s adaptation of “Far From The Madding Crowd” – and now two of her three potential suitors are also joining negotiations.

Britain’s Daily Mail reports that Mulligan “is close to signing”, and that Matthias Schoenaerts, who wowed us at Cannes last year in “Rust and Bone” has been offered the role of Gabriel, a shephard, although the Belgian actor has yet to accept a deal.

The tale, an adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel will follow Mulligan’s Bathsheba, a beautiful young woman who begins life with no fortune. She soon meets three different men – a shephard, a neighbour and a soldier – and through the years learns about the value of life and love through dramatic episodes with them. British actor Matthew Goode is rumoured to have the role of Troy, the handsome young solider.

Vinterberg has described his adaptation, which has been scripted by David Nicholls, as “raw and revolutionary” – traits in films which we have come to expect from both Mulligan and Schoenaerts, and that the film will be “visceral and violent in its emotions and physicality.”

Schoenaerts broke out at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and since then has gone on to join several intriguing projects, including “Suite Francaise” with Michelle Williams, and “Animal Rescue” with Noomi Rapace and Tom Hardy.