Shakespeare has ruled the stages for centuries, and as the big screen began its journey, he still holds equal importance. As of now, around 500 adaptations have been done for the big screens, and now, the industry is going to add one more name to this list.
And this time, Al Pacino and Shakespeare will be shaking hands, quite a revolutionary pairing.
Bernard Rose, known for “Immortal Beloved,” is set to direct “Lear, Rex…,” a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear. Al Pacino will play the lead, with Jessica Chastain as Goneril. Produced by Barry Navidi, it marks his fifth collaboration with Pacino, following “The Merchant of Venice” and the “Salomé” series.
Chastain’s stage role in “Salome” alongside Pacino marked her film debut in his “Wilde Salome.” A three-time Oscar nominee, she clinched a win for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”
Talking about the plot, it will follow the same plot as the original King Lear: the king divides his kingdom based on his daughters’ declarations of love. The two eldest flatter him, winning shares, while honest Cordelia is banished.
Betrayed and stripped of power, Lear descends into madness. Cordelia tries to help, but they’re defeated. The play ends tragically with multiple deaths, leaving only survivors who disguised themselves to protect the king.
Regarding Al’s appreciation of the project, Navidi, the producer, tells a credible source, “This project has been Al’s labor of love for over a decade. I am overjoyed to bring this amazing venture to the screen with Bernard Rose’s brilliant adaptation and bold unique vision. I am so excited to team up again with Jess since Pacino’s Wilde Salome.”
Shooting will start late summer, and it will be in LA. Then, we might have a positive update about the release window.
And it is the end of the update, but as a cinema fan, Shakespearean adaptations are more than cinema. Through the ages, we’ve gotten some of the best films of all time. From Kurosawa’s “Throne of Blood” to Apple TV’s “Macbeth,” these films transcend cinema. As a fan, we hope they have the same effect.
Just to end the article, no news on Shakespearean adaptations is complete without the Indian counterpart, the trifecta of Indian masterpieces: long live “Omkara,” “Haider,” and “Maqbool.”
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
