Ethan Hawke to Star in Modern Film Adaptation of Shakespeare's CYMBELINE

Variety reports that Ethan Hawke has signed on to star in Michael Almereyda's CYMBELINE, described as a modern day adaption of Shakespeare's classic play. Production is scheduled to begin on August 19 in New York City.

The film will follow "a battle between dirty cops and a drug dealing biker gang set in a corruption-riddled 21st century America." The original play focused on the daughter of the British king Cymbeline, who discovers she has secretly married a man raised in her father's court, resulting in his banishment from the court.

Almereyda and Hawke have previously worked together in 2000's 'Hamlet.' Almereyda's other directorial credits include "Trance," "New Orleans, Mon Amour" and "Nadja."

Hawke recently starred in "The Purge" and "Before Midnight" and will soon be seen in "The Getaway. He will return to the stage this November in Lincoln Center Theatre's "Macbeth." The actor's Broadway credits include The Coast of Utopia (Tony nom.), Henry IV, The Seagull. Off-B'way works include Sophistry, The Late Henry Moss, The Bridge Project (Drama Desk nom.).

On the big screen, the actor has appeared in Training Day (Academy Award nom.) and Before Sunset (Academy Award nom. as a writer, Best Adapted Screenplay). Hawke directed the films Chelsea Walls, Straight to One (also wrote) and The Hottest State (also wrote & appeared). He has written two novels.

To post a comment, you must register and login.