Braveheart actor Brendan Gleeson in talks to join Joel Coen’s Macbeth

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

One of the great character actors of our generation, Brendan Gleeson (CAVALRY, LIVE BY NIGHT), is set to saddle up again with one of the Coen brothers. Gleeson, who had a part in last year's Coen Brothers western THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS, is currently in talks to join Joel Coen's MACBETH. The film is of course based on the famous play by William Shakespeare which, follows "a general who’s convinced by a trio of witches that he’s destined to become the king of Scotland. With the help of his ambitious wife, Macbeth tries to seize the crown by any means necessary." Gleeson is up for the role of King Duncan, who Macbeth murders to become king of Scotland.

The Mr. Mercedes star would join Oscar winner Denzel Washington (TRAINING DAY) in the title role while another Oscar winner, Frances McDormand (FARGO), will play Macbeth's scheming and ambitious wife. Nothing has been finalized and the actor's schedule could prevent him from joining the cast. Brendan Gleeson is set to begin work on the CBS mini-series A Higher Loyalty  soon where he will portray Donald Trump.

If Gleeson signs on for MACBETH it certainly wouldn't be his first turn as a Scotsman. Brendan Gleeson famously portrayed the burly, bold, and brash Hamish Campbell in 1995's BRAVEHEART alongside Mel Gibson. Gleeson's showed quite the range as an actor over the years, appearing in everything from dark comedies like IN BRUGES to family fare like PADDINGTON 2. I have no doubt that Brendan Gleeson possess sufficient acting chops and gravitas to pull off King Duncan.

Although this will mark the umpteenth time Macbeth has received the big screen treatment (the last being the 2015 film starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard) it will mark a first for Joel Coen. MACBETH will be the first solo project for the director who's always worked with his brother Ethan. The pair have quite the resume between the two of them with hits like RAISING ARIZONA and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. It will be interesting to see how Joel Coen, who also wrote the script, fares on his own.

Production on Joel Coen's MACBETH is set to kick off early next year.