A24 is attempting another adaptation of classic literature after the incredible spectacle of the studio's recent film The Green Knight. Based on the tale of Sir Gaiwan and The Green Knight, the film offered a twisted and hypnotic retelling of the iconic story. This time the studio tackles William Shakespeare's classic play, Macbeth, in an upcoming film titled The Tragedy of Macbeth.
A24 just released a dark trailer befitting such a tale as Macbeth. The all-black-and-white trailer focuses on only a handful of shots featuring some of the main characters, including a hopeful and searching Macbeth, the three elusive and intimidating witches, a guarding King Duncan, and Lady Macbeth watching her back.
The Tragedy of Macbeth trailer revealed no secrets, clocking in at under a minute and leaving the viewer with an ominous and gloomy landscape. The only sentence muttered in the trailer is, "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes," which adds to the dark ambiance. The quote, of course, is a popular one originally uttered in haste by one of the three witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth. However, it is uncertain whether it is one of the witches saying this line in the trailer.
The upcoming Tragedy of Macbeth film features a star-studded cast all backed behind the incredible and eclectic director Joel Coen (The Big Lebowski, Fargo), who also wrote the screenplay. Some of the main cast includes Denzel Washington as Macbeth, Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth, Corey Hawkins as Macduff, Moses Ingram as Lady Macduff, Harry Melling as Malcolm, Brendan Gleeson as King Duncan, Sean Patrick Thomas as Montieth, Jacob McCarthy as Wheyface, Miles Anderson as Lennox, and Alex Hassell as Ross.
With groundbreaking storyteller Coen and a starring role filled by Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth is sure to add a unique addition to the world of Shakespeare adaptations. Macbeth is one of the most popular Shakespeare plays, known especially for the cunning and strong presence of the brooding Lady Macbeth herself. The title change from Macbeth to The Tragedy of Macbeth makes an important statement about the original story, which has kept readers in a constant debate over good vs. evil.
The Tragedy of Macbeth is rated R for violence, guaranteeing an intense and shocking film, as A24 has delivered before in films such as Saint Maud and Midsommar.
The Tragedy of Macbeth premieres in theaters on December 25th, 2021, and will stream exclusively on Apple TV on January 14th, 2022.
Source: A24/YouTube