Anthony Stewart Head in a futuristic Macbeth

The always excellent Anthony Stewart Head (Buffy, Merlin) has starred as Duncan in a futuristic version of Macbeth according to io9.

Director Nicholas Paton, who adapted the play with Fergus March (who also plays the title role), provided a tantalizing description of Head's role way back in 2006:

"Tony plays Duncan as a spitting, cigar-chomping criminal leader, with a soft Glaswegian accent that can turn in an instant from warm and affectionate to fatally menacing. As Duncan he plays a pivotal role in the film - he is both Macbeth's boss and paternal figure, whom Macbeth is driven to murder by his own uncontrollable ambition. The murder of Duncan reflects the loss of the last of the old-school gangsters as a new generation rise to power, a generation without the same moral sensibilities and rules of conduct as Duncan's - much as Brando's Don Corleone is ousted by a younger more reckless generation in The Godfather."

However, it appears that there have been some problems during the editing process and reshoots have been needed. Unfortunately, it looks as if Anthony won't be able to do them.

"That last I heard of it, somebody called me who was editing it and said, 'We've got a few issues with various things that might need re-shooting. And I thought, 'Well, you kind of had me when you had me. I'm shooting in France. I can't really do it.' So I don't know what's going on with that, but there were just a few issues of things differing from one scene to another. What I saw and what I was in was great, and I sincerely hope it will get some kind of release."

Set in the future but using Shakespeare's original dialogue? Sounds bizarre yet cool. I'll keep you posted as and when I find anything new on this.

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Terrence Howard to star in a sunny version of the Scottish Play

Terrence Howard, who is producing an updated film version of Shakespeare's Macbeth, told a group of reporters that he takes on the title role in the classic play of ambition and treachery, the leading role he's been waiting for. After the buzz from his Oscar nomination for Hustle & Flow, Howard has only played one lead, in the film Pride.

"I had to wait for a minute to trust where I was going," Howard said in a group interview on Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he was promoting the action drama Fighting. "I'm about to do Macbeth, which we are producing. We're going to do that this summer."

After playing supporting roles in Iron Man, August Rush and The Brave One, Howard felt that the Shakespeare play fit his criteria for a leading vehicle. "I'm playing Hamlet," he joked, confirming that he would play the title role of Macbeth.

Howard will also work behind the scenes on the film. "My production company is producing that," he said. "We'll shoot it in Puerto Rico starting in June."

Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish warrior whose interpretation of three witches' prophecies leads him to murder the king and usurp the throne. This Macbeth adaptation will be set in the modern day, with an exotic island setting.

"Yes, it's updated present time, Caribbean," Howard said. "It'll be a nice thing to see Shakespeare under a Caribbean sun."

What do you think about a Caribbean set Macbeth?

Source: Sci Fi Wire

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