First images from Joss Whedon’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing

Joss Whedon secretly filmed his version of William Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING immediately after he wrapped on THE AVENGERS. He gathered a cast and crew comprised mostly of friends and colleagues and turned out the polar opposite to a big budget superhero epic. Until now, we have only taken his word for it. Today, some images from the new MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING have made their way online.

The images reflect what Whedon said. Shot in black and white, the new take on the play looks very low budget. I am sure you will recognize many of the faces from prior Whedon works, including Amy Acker, Clark Gregg, and Nathan Fillion.

Plot: Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a very “merry war”; they are both very glib and proclaim their scorn for love, marriage, and each other. In contrast, Claudio and Hero are sweet young people who are rendered practically speechless by their love for one another. By means of “noting” (which sounds the same as “nothing,” and which is gossip, rumour, and overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is tricked into rejecting Hero at the altar.

The play was updated for the big screen back in 1993 by Kenneth Branagh. That version kept the traditional setting intact but did cast Denzel Washington in the main role of Don Pedro.

According to Whedon, his MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is a “love letter, to the text, to the cast, even to the house it’s shot in. All [involved are] dedicated to the idea that this story bears retelling, that this dialogue is as fresh and intoxicating as any being written, and that the joy of working on a passion project surrounded by dear friends, admired colleagues and an atmosphere of unabashed rapture far outweighs their hilariously miniature paychecks.”

Whedon is often known for the well written relationships between his characters on BUFFY and ANGEL. William Shakespeare was one of the greatest playwrights of all time. Combine them and we are in for a very intriguing mix. I look forward to seeing what this new adaptation brings to the table.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING premiers at the Toronto International Film Festival, which begins on September 6th.