This just in, David Oyelowo (SELMA, NIGHTINGALE) has signed on to star in the forthcoming live-action Disney musical penned by MOONLIGHT playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. The film, entitled CYRANO THE MOOR, will borrow from both William Shakespeare‘s revenge-tale OTHELLO and the French play Cyrano de Bergerac, which tells the story of a large-nosed romantic who uses his linguistic savvy to help another man win the affection of the woman he loves. If that plot sounds familiar, it’s because Cryano de Bergerac was adapted to screen by Fred Schepisi with the 1987 romantic comedy ROXANNE. The movie starred Steve Martin as the long-nosed Lothario and Daryl Hannah as the remarkable love interest.
Oyelowo would help produce the project alongside his wife, English actress Jessica Oyelowo. Joining in on the production efforts will be Yoruba Saxon, who worked beside David on the film A UNITED KINGDOM in 2016. CYRANO THE MOOR is part of a long list of musicals in current development over at Disney. With the House of Mouse rebooting damn-near every animated movie in their classic library, it’s nice to hear of an “original” film making it into the mix. I have no doubt that Guy Ritchie‘s ALADDIN will perform like gangbusters at the box office, and I hope that CYRANO THE MOOR does as well. Back in the day, I was a big fan of Schepisi’s ROXANNE, and am looking forward to seeing a more cultured and musical take on the mash-up love story.
For the moment, no date has been set for the release of CYRANO THE MOOR, though you can look forward to Guy Ritchie‘s ALADDIN poofing its way into theaters sometime in 2019.
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