http://chud.com/nextraimages/pompeii.jpgRoman Polanski’s next film, Pompeii, is preparing to begin shooting this summer, with a cash-infusion from Italy’s RAI Cinema going towards the picture’s projected 130 million dollar budget.

Based on the novel by Robert Harris (and co-written by him), the movie tells of the final days of the city of Pompeii before it got nuked by the explosion of Mount Vesuvius. The tale is told through the eyes of Marco Attilio Primo, a young Roman engineer sent to town to work on the local aqueduct. Bummer on your timing, Primo! Polanski is going to cast a major A-list American star in the role.

He’s also going to be shooting 90% of his CGI-heavy movie in Spain, even though Italy is trying to bend over backwards to have him shoot there. Filming begins in August.