More casting information is emerging about a planned movie version of “King Lear.” The project was first revealed in May during the Cannes Film Festival in France. As previously announced, Anthony Hopkins will play the title role. Keira Knightley will play Cordelia and Gwyneth Paltrow will portray Regan. This week it was also announced that Naomi Watts is set to take the role of Goneril.
The film will be directed by Joshua Michael Stern. Stern says that other big-name actors will soon join the cast but promises to stay away from what he calls “stunt casting.” Stern plans to set the production in pre-Roman Celtic Britain. Stern also says he will be retaining Shakespeare’s script for the screen play.
The production reportedly has a budget of $35 million. Filming is scheduled to begin in England or Ireland in early 2009. A release date has not been publicly announced.
Another film version of “King Lear” is due to be released later this year. This movie is being directed by Trevor Nunn and stars Ian McKellen as Lear and Romola Garai as Cordelia. The film is based on Nunn’s 2007 production of Lear for the Royal Shakespeare Company, which also starred McKellen. The movie will be broadcast in the UK this December on Channel 4; in the US this fall on PBS; and on NHK in Japan. A worldwide DVD release is also planned.
