No, Poet Gone Mad is not the title of the film, but Aron Gauder and Erik Novak are apparently hard at work on Egill, a film based on the life of a 10th century Icelandic poet. Here's the synopsis:
"Egill, the poet, is shipwrecked near the British shores, and comes before Eirik Bloodaxe, King of Northumbria, only to face jail and a death sentence. The night before his execution, Egill decides to write an ode to the king in the hope of a royal pardon. As he writes, his memories start to appear before us. We see his early years on Iceland, we learn about his innate shape-shifting ability, and his overly violent nature combined with a true lyric talent. Egill's first voyage to Norway ends abruptly at a revel where Egill happens to kill a retainer of the young King Eirik. Queen Gunnhildur swears to take revenge. Egill now has to flee from Norway with his friend Arinbjorn, and goes marauding the Slavic shores. He meets and marries Asgerd, whose estate has been taken by Onund. Egill returns to Norway to claim Asgerd's dowry, transforms into a bear, kills Onund, slays the king's son, sets up a curse-pole facing Eirik's realm, and returns to Iceland. In response, the rampaging Gunnhildur casts a spell of restlessness over Egill. Soon afterwards, the king is ousted from the throne by his brother Hakon and flees to Northumbria with Gunnhildur. Egill also sets out for Britain to trade, but he can't avoid an enormous seastorm... and then the cock crows. Egill wakes up to be taken before the king. After he recites the poem he composed overnight, Eirik Bloodaxe relents, and releases him. Vengeful Gunnhildur sends her men to kill the poet outside of the gates. Egill defies the killers - but not his fate - and falls at the hands of the queen's hitmen."
So, a good bit different from the madness that was The District - which they confirmed they will be making a sequel to while here in town for the film festival - but somehow it makes sense. They're still in the planning and scripting stages at the moment, but there are some early character and animation tests available on the official website.
