I don't know about you, but I had a hard time digging my heels into Shakespeare during my early schooling years. While I enjoyed all the romance, betrayal, dismemberment and death that accompanied The Bard of Avon's sonnets, I found myself working a bit too hard to decipher the rhythm and meaning behind the playwright's words to ever fully enjoy his epic iambic pentameter tales. Thankfully, Hollywood has be recreating Shakespeare's stories for generations, and before long, STAR WARS actress Daisy Ridley will lead an adaptation of OPHELIA for Covert Media.
Furthermore, it's been announced today that Golden Globe winning and Academy Award nominated actor Clive Owen (CHILDREN OF MEN, VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS), George MacKay (CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, PRIDE), Tom Felton (HARRY POTTER franchise, IN SECRET), and Devon Terrell (BARRY) have been confirmed to star in the thrilling romantic tragedy, OPHELIA, alongside Daisy Ridley (MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI) and two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts (THE IMPOSSIBLE). The highly-anticipated feature film begins principle photography in May 2017 on location in Prague.
To be directed by THE WAITING CITY helmer Claire McCarthy, OPHELIA is based on the award-winning novel by Lisa Klein and adapted for the screen by the award-winning writer Semi Chellas (MAD MEN). Here's the official plot synopsis for the film:
Set in the 14th Century but spoken in a contemporary voice, Ophelia is a dynamic re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Ophelia (Ridley) takes center stage as the Queen’s (Watts) most trusted lady-in-waiting. Beautiful and intelligent, she soon captures the attention of the handsome Prince Hamlet and a forbidden love blossoms. As war brews, lust and betrayal are tearing Elsinore Castle apart from within and Ophelia must decide between her true love or her own life in order to protect a very dangerous secret. As reported, Owen will play Claudius, MacKay will play Hamlet, Felton will play Laertes, and Terrell will play Horatio.
Wow! From the look of it, this cast list is growing all-the-more impressive with every addition. If I'm not mistaken, I do believe my 7th grade English teacher Mr. Newcombe treated us to a viewing of Franco Zeffierelli's HAMLET starring Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, and Helena Bonham Carter. At the time, I remember thinking the film was damn good. With any luck, OPHELIA will be a nice way for us all to indulge in one of Shakespeare's works on the big screen.
While we're waiting for this film to be released, you can catch Daisy Ridley in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI when it forces its way into theaters on December 15, 2017.
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