Michael Fassbender will be taking his talents to the world of Shakespeare as ScreenDaily reports that the actor will be teaming up again with Shame producers Iain Canning and Emiler Sherman for an adaptation of Macbeth. Directing will be Justin Kurzel, who made a splash with his debut film Snowtown back in 2011. Tood Louiso and Jacob Koskoff will be penning the script and the project will be shopped around at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
Kurzel’s adaptation is hoping to retain the 11th century setting and the original language, an odd choice but one that will be interesting to see how it plays out. In today’s modern society, I can’t see many moviegoers wanting to sit through an adaptation of Macbeth that hasn’t been updated or changed. If they want to see it as is, why not just check out a stage adaptation?
Honestly, this whole project doesn’t make much sense to me. Not only have Shakespeare’s plays been adapted to death but if you’re going to bring in an actor as talented as Fassbender, why not try to do something different with the source material? Does anyone really want to see another re-hash of a Shakespeare play? And how many people would be willing to sit through a film in Shakespearean language, set in the 11th century? Not I, that’s for sure. It’s a shame (no pun intended) too, because Fassbender is such an extraordinary actor and there are so many other projects I’d rather see him in. Not that this won’t be a meaty role for him to sink his teeth into, it’s just that there are other projects that I think he would be better suited for.
Admittedly, the story of Macbeth is far from flat or boring, it follows “a ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord who siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.” Apparently Kurzel will be aiming to make his adaptation quite visceral and hopes to include some large battle scenes. That all sounds well and good but still, another Shakespeare adaptation? Really?
It just doesn’t sit well with me. Kurzel and Fassbender are two very exciting filmmakers and I would rather see them apply their talents to something else. Or at the very least, do something unique or different with the source material. It’s a rich story and one that could lend itself quite well to a contemporary retelling, so the choice to keep it in the 11th century and in Shakespearean language really does puzzle me. Maybe it’s just because I can’t stand Shakespeare though and am sick and tired of seeing film after film try to adapt his work.
What do you think? Do you want to see Michael Fassbender star in Macbeth? Let us know in the comments below.
