It's been over 20 years since the release of Baz Luhrmann's ROMEO + JULIET, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the star-crossed lovers. Adapted from the legendary tale by William Shakespeare, Luhrmann's version of the sordid tale of pleasure, prospect and poison resonated greatly with those belonging to "Generation X." Now, the Mark Gordon Company hopes that their version will do the same for millenials the world over. Of course, when adapting your version of a story that's been done by literally hundreds of others (be it on stage or screen), you want to make certain that your effort is unique. With that in mind, this new version of the romantic tragedy will be set against a backdrop of corporate espionage.
Today, it's been announced that PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES actress Kaya Scodelario and HUNGER GAMES actor Josh Hutcherson have joined the cast of ROMEO AND JULIET as the film's divided unto death couple. Collin Schiffli (ANIMALS) will helm the Shakespeare update, which has been titled DIE IN A GUNFIGHT. Schiffli will work from a script penned by ANT-MAN AND THE WASP scribes Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari, with stars Helen Hunt and Olivia Munn also signed to the project. With Mark Gordon , Tom Butterfield and Allyson Seeger set to produce, principal photography on the film is expected to begin next month in Boston.
A version of Romeo and Juliet with a corporate caper bent, you say? Sure, why the hell not? If executed with style and an interesting linguistic spin, the corporate backstabbing motif could lend to some sweet but deadly family drama. I'm down for giving this a go, be it for curiosities sake or otherwise.
You can see Kaya Scodelario when next she reprises her role in MAZE RUNNER 3: THE DEATH CURE opening on January 26, 2018. Additionally, you can catch Josh Hutcherson when he appears in James Franco's THE DISASTER ARTIST, which is set for a December 8th release.