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The film, which Everett wrote and plans to both direct and take the title role in, focuses on the life of the flamboyant 19th century Irish poet and writer in Paris when he went into exile after leaving prison.
"His life was completely different from the incredibly glamorous life of a star that he led previously in London," Everett told a panel discussion on the future of storytelling at the five-day book fair.
He said he had now found producers and hoped to make the film next year.
So far the cast includes "The King's Speech" star Colin Firth, as well as Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson and Edward Fox, he said, also pointing to the difficulties of producing a period film.
"It's difficult to finance a film like this because it takes place in the 19th century so it's already extremely expensive.
"It takes place also in four different locations (Naples, Paris, London and the north of France) which you cannot really cheat," he said.
But he added: "I just thought now at this stage in my life, I just want to try and do the kind of thing that I like and these are the kind of films that I like."
Everett, who has also written a couple of books, has already been in two films and several plays about Wilde.
But he said his new film portrayed the end of Wilde's life after falling from being "one of the first pop stars" of his day, to being shunned by society as a convicted homosexual, and demise into alcohol and living as a vagabond.
"I have had a relationship with Oscar Wilde right from my earliest memories really because my mother used to read to me at night the Oscar Wilde fairy stories," he said.
"Also as a homosexual trying to make a living in show business I have found many things really haven't changed in one sense since the day of Oscar Wilde," he said.
Despite political correctness, there is "still a rock hard culture. In the cinema, for example, if you want to be in front of the camera, it's pretty much impossible to be a homosexual.
"In football it's pretty much impossible to be a homosexual."
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"His life was completely different from the incredibly glamorous life of a star that he led previously in London," Everett told a panel discussion on the future of storytelling at the five-day book fair.
He said he had now found producers and hoped to make the film next year.
So far the cast includes "The King's Speech" star Colin Firth, as well as Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson and Edward Fox, he said, also pointing to the difficulties of producing a period film.
"It's difficult to finance a film like this because it takes place in the 19th century so it's already extremely expensive.
"It takes place also in four different locations (Naples, Paris, London and the north of France) which you cannot really cheat," he said.
But he added: "I just thought now at this stage in my life, I just want to try and do the kind of thing that I like and these are the kind of films that I like."
Everett, who has also written a couple of books, has already been in two films and several plays about Wilde.
But he said his new film portrayed the end of Wilde's life after falling from being "one of the first pop stars" of his day, to being shunned by society as a convicted homosexual, and demise into alcohol and living as a vagabond.
"I have had a relationship with Oscar Wilde right from my earliest memories really because my mother used to read to me at night the Oscar Wilde fairy stories," he said.
"Also as a homosexual trying to make a living in show business I have found many things really haven't changed in one sense since the day of Oscar Wilde," he said.
Despite political correctness, there is "still a rock hard culture. In the cinema, for example, if you want to be in front of the camera, it's pretty much impossible to be a homosexual.
"In football it's pretty much impossible to be a homosexual."
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