English actor Douglas Booth (The Pillars of the Earth) has been cast as Romeo in Italian director Carlo Carlei’s Romeo and Juliet. Variety reports that he’ll share the big screen with Academy Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) who’s set to play Juliet in the film.
This latest adaptation of the popular Shakespeare play, which tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers whose romance is complicated by the bitter rivalry between their two families, is said to follow a much more traditional route than previous versions.
The 19-year-old was cast over hundreds of other young actors who were also vying for the part. He’ll be joining fellow actors Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl), who will play the part of Tybalt, 14-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In) who is set to play Romeo’s cousin Benvolio, and actress Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) who has signed on as the Nurse.
I’m glad that Carlei is taking a more traditional tone for this film. There have been so many adaptations of this play that it needs something different for me to watch it. Casting young actors and actresses is the best move he could make and so far the cast is shaping up pretty well. I’m excited to see who else joins the film.
What do you think about the casting? Do you think the young thespian can pull it off?
