Stewart, who stars in and produces the modernized version of Billy Shakes’ play, wrangled STAR TREK: NEMESIS writer John Logan into adapting it for him, apparently only after convincing him it wasn’t “loathsome”. The story’s themes of gambling, greed and homosexuality should be a great fit for a town defined by its accessibility of vices and glitzy excess.
Shakespeare’s play revolves around a man who borrows money from a loan shark after a failed attempt to score points with a handsome younger lad, who’s off pursuing a hot babe. When this latest version was originally mentioned a couple of years ago, Stewart’s adversary in mutant-human affairs, Ian McKellan, was planning to star as lusty elder Antonio opposite Stewart’s flesh-demanding Shylock.
No director has been named yet for the project yet, described as being in a similar vein as Baz Luhrmann’s ROMEO + JULIET. Logan also recently wrote SWEENEY TODD, THE AVIATOR and THE LAST SAMURAI.