It’s been a while since a Shakespeare play has been adapted into a movie, but in Macbeth (2015), we could be getting one of the most impressive of the lot. Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave) and Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises) have been confirmed in the lead roles of Lord and Lady Macbeth, so there’s a fair amount of acting might behind the movie, and the alternative film production qualities of See-Saw Films and Film 4 Productions are heading up the development of the adaptation.
Release date
In terms of a general release date Macbeth has been confirmed to arrive in the UK on the 2nd October 2015 through Studio Canal, which is pretty close to our initial late Autumn prediction. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when the film will be making its way to North American cinemas, but we’ll update with more details as they’re released.
An official release date was a long time in coming for the Shakespearian big screen adaptation. The Weinstein Company originally previewed the trailer for the movie at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, and the full premiere took place at the 2015 festival on the 23rd May 2015 in the jury’s Official Selection. We also expect it to be one to look out for at one or more of the other big film festivals on the calendar, like Telluride or Toronto in September.
Story
From the look of the image above, the plot for the film is set to be a fairly true-to-story adaptation from William Shakespeare’s original works, written way back at the dawn of the 1600s. Set in war torn 11th century Scotland, General Macbeth receives a prophesy from three witches that he will become the next king of Scotland, despite the fact that he’s the existing king’s general and kinsman.
Ambition and desire on the part of both Macbeth and his driven lady conspire to push the general into action, taking him away from the honourable warrior and battle leader reputation that he had forged for himself. With the words of The Witches and those of his wife ringing loudly in his ear he takes matters into his own hands, not trusting to fate, and makes a bloody move for the throne of Scotland resulting more war and mayhem in the foggy highlands.
Cast
Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard are joined in the film by Sean Harris (’71), who worked alongside Fassbender on Prometheus, as McDuff, a rival Thane of Scotland. Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby (2014)) plays Lady McDuff and Paddy Consadine (Child 44) has been cast as Banquo, Macbeth’s lieutenant. Jack Reynor takes on the role of Malcolm, King Duncan’s elder son, and David Thewlis (The Theory Of Everything) plays Duncan, King of Scotland.
Production
The movie is being directed by Justin Kurzel, who’s previous work includes the Australian crime horror film, Snowtown. He has also been attached to the future production of the Assassin’s Creed movie. Writers of the Macbeth (2015) screenplay were Todd Louiso, Jacob Koskoff and Michael Lesslie and Laura Hastings-Smith produced.
First impressions
With positive first screenings of the trailer, which you can watch below, such a solid cast and the alternative movie development capabilities of Kurzel, See-Saw and Film 4, we’re expecting this to be a real contender for award nominations after it’s release this year. Now that the official trailer is available, you can see how the film is shaping up before it hits the cinemas and it’s clearly going to be a dark passage for the Shakespearean tragedy.
 movie details, release date and trailer from the film section of Tuppence Magazine, with info about the storyline and cast for the 2015 adaptation.){kind=link}