After scratching my head in confusion yesterday as to why Michael Fassbender would attach himself to Snowtown helmer Justin Kurzel’s upcoming Macbeth adaptation, I now find myself in a similar situation. Today, another extremely talented individual, and a personal favorite of mine, has joined the film.
After working together on Terrence Malick’s upcoming drama, and after almost working together on Jane Got A Gun, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman will be teaming up again as the actress has joined Kurzel’s film and will play Lady Macbeth.
Scripted by Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff, the film will retain the 11th century setting and will keep the Shakespearean language. Kurzel will apparently use a visceral style to tell the story with plans for a lot of large battle scenes. Production is set to begin later this year with a 2014 release date in mind.
I’m not going to get into this again but like Fassbender, I don’t see why such a wonderful actress would join a film like this. Don’t get me wrong, Macbeth is a great story and Kurzel is a talented director, but why give us another adaptation of a Shakespeare play? Isn’t anyone else a bit sick of seeing Shakespeare’s plays being adapted for the big screen.
Plus, if you’re going to adapt it at least give us a contemporary spin on the story. Maybe it’s just because I’m not a fan of Will and his works, but I really don’t care to see another adaptation of Macbeth, or any of his other plays. Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman are quite possibly, two of the best actors currently working in Hollywood and I would much rather see them use their talents for something else.
Sure, there might be some meaty material for the actors to sink their teeth into here but I just have no desire to see an adaptation of Macbeth set in the 11th century using Shakespearean language.
Do you?