You’ll have to excuse the Michael Fassbender p0rn. I haven’t written about him in a while, so I enjoyed looking for some really good photos of him. The photos of Fassy with the ginger beard (taken last year) are on purpose. I want him to look super-gingery and like an 11th-century warrior king (come to me and pillage, my Fassy). It seems that Fassy might have a new project on the horizon – yet another screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Now, Fassy has a natural Irish accent, he can do a decent German accent, English accent and American accent. But can he do a Scottish accent?
Everyone from Sam Worthington (really) to Orson Welles has taken on “Macbeth,” and the Shakespeare play that dare not say its name has been adapted countless time for the stage, television and multiplex. Well, when it comes to the cinema, (quality) movie versions have been a bit fewer and farther between, so the news that Michael Fassbender might take the lead in “the Scottish play” certainly has our attention.
The actor is attached to a new version of Shakespeare’s work that will be directed by the fast rising “Snowtown” director, Justin Kurzel. Penned by Todd Louiso (the director behind “Love Liza” and “Hello I Must Be Going”) and Jacob Koskoff (who co-penned “The Marc Pease Experience” with Louiso), the story will be the same, set in the 11th century, and will be presented in the original dialogue. However, this version will be more “visceral” and contain “significant battle scenes.” And production is coming together pretty fast.
Plans are underway for the film to shoot later this year, and will seemingly be bumping plans for Kurzel’s adaptation of John Le Carre’s “Our Kind Of Traitor,” which had Ralph Fiennes and Mads Mikkelsen lining up. A bit of bummer, but still, Fassy + Macbeth is a combo we won’t argue with. And speaking of the actor, who is currently lensing “X-Men: Days Of Future Past,” this is a nice meaty project to dive into after the VFX extravaganza. As for Lady Macbeth? Talks are apparently underway with an unnamed “Hollywood leading actress.” Suggestions?
Macbeth is a violent, murderous psycho. He’s crazed with power, he’s destructive, and he’s probably a sociopath. It’s a meaty role for any actor, and that’s why so many actors attempt it. I prefer Macbeth to Hamlet personally, but my favorite (and the play which I wish would be adapted more often) is Othello. Fassbender would make an AMAZING Iago to, say, Idris Elba’s Othello. That’s my dreamcasting for the day! Oh, but who should play Lady Macbeth to Fassy’s Macbeth? I would love to see him with another ginger. Someone tough. Ooooh, you know who would be really good? I hate to say it, but Jessica Chastain would be amaze-balls. DONE.
Photos courtesy of NYT, WENN, Esquire.
Why all the Macbeths? I have supped full already. I loves me some Thane of Cawdor, but EVERYONE is doing it these days. It’s getting old.
That was my first thought as well (although I suppose I am in that group as well)
And with all due respect, I could not get behind Chastain as Lady M. But Fassy would make a great Iago, don’t you think?
I think Chastain is overrated. I could see Fassbender as an Iago. I would prefer him in Marlowe’s Tamburlaine.
Speaking of The Scottish Play, Idris Elba would making an INSANE Macbeth. He would break my heart.
Miss eyre, Since reading your great re-working of Macbeth, i vote they make THAT into the film.
On a serious note, i re-read the play again with you in mind.
much more satisfying. You notice things that one had glazed over previously.
@Fanty
Agreed on Chastain. I think she’s talented enough, but for me she definitely lacks presence. And Lady Macbeth is ALL about presence.
You know it’s only now that awards season is over that I realize how much she was playing the game. She was getting paped practically everyday, and now? Nothing. I’m so naive…
@LAK: I LOVE the PlumeNotes Macbeth.
Gosh, you guys *blush*, you sure know how to make a girl feel good. Thank you. Especially after a review I received this weekend of “you would expect that from you (me), but not a real writer.
Idris would be a good Macbeth. My deep love for chiwetel ejiofor has him permanently cast as Othello in my mind.
But who would be a good Lady M? I was thinking on my run, what about Danai Gurira? Not sure she has the chops but she might and she has the confidence and sex appeal for it. Angelina Jolie came to mind but I don’t know how she would fare with Shakespeare.
I like Fassy for Macbeth, but yeah, Idris would kill it. Chastain is all right, but like Anna said, she lacks presence. I think the role requires a certain grandeur. I thought of Angelina as well, but I just can’t with her accents.
How about Charlize for Lady Macbeth? Too much?
Let me jump on board the Idris for Macbeth train and yes, yes, yes! to Chiwetel Ejiofor as Othello. I love you so much right now j.eyre for that suggestion.
Lovely Fassy. *Stares at pictures*
@ Miss Jane! Barnes and Noble just delivered my copy of your book! So exciting!
Miss Eyre/ Miss Fanty: I am guilty as the next person of thinking that Lady M is a pretty powerful character. I’ve revised that opinion since re-reading the play and Plumnotes MacBeth. I think she is a weasal, but not a strong weasal. That automatically crosses out all the wishlist actresses with a powerful aura to them.
I would want a Winona Ryder if you remember how manipulative she was in THE AGE OF INNOCENCE. Got her way by weasalling to it.
BTW: speaking of Othello, amongst all the many, many adaptations of it, is a great Bollywood one called OMKARA. Who knew Saif Ali Khan could act!!!!
i don’t know who Danai Gurira, but i shall go watch a few things to find out.
@andrea – I thought about Charlize but, although I love her, if she plays a “strong” lady, she can chew the scenery and Lady M needs a more serpentine touch. I could be wrong. Also, isn’t Lady M one of those seductive but not classically beautiful types like Anne Boleyn and Cleopatra?
@ICM – It’s always a pleasure to say Chiwetel’s name – albeit I would prefer in his ear and he is kissing my neck. He played the Othello role before so the idea is not actually mine (but I imagine him saying “I kiss the instrument of their pleasures” in my mind a lot.)
@Fanty – well that was very nice of them. Did you offer them tea? I think you will appreciate the “What The Blog” chapter more than ever now.
@LAK – Winona is a very interesting choice. I absolutely agree with manipulation being her strongest characteristic. And I think Winona could handle with Lady M comes undone. I really thought Keeley Hawes did a wonderful job in her role in the Re-Told version.
Did any of you see Men of Respect back in the 90s? It’s a pretty good version (from what I remember) not perfect but they have some clever ways to modernize Macbeth.
Off-topic – Coincidentally, did you know Michael Fassbender is responsible for the existence of PlumeNotes int he first place – nice bit of kismet, there.
I also wonder why hollywood shuns Othello. I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say its the interracial relationship. What other reason could there be? Idris would be perfect.
Off topic, glad you are back to covering seksy men. The CumberHiddles posts were striking unbearable volumes imho.
I’m not sure that it’s the interracial thing. There is a LOT of spoken racism in the play that would have to be acknowledged. Othello is also very easily swayed, and the reading has to be subtle enough to justify why he turns on Des so absolutely, and Hollywood isn’t exactly known for its nuanced readings of character. There’s also no major black leading man who seems to want the role, because it’s not a great role. It’s Iago’s play, really.
The last Othello for screen was with Lawerence Fishbourne, iirc. I’d love to see Chewitel Ejiofor take on Othello for screen – he’s done the play and everyone – from Hiddles to Cumberbatch sings his praises. Go, Chewy!
I think he did Othello a couple of years ago. Wasn’t he Othello to Ewan MacGregor’s Iago and Hiddles’ Cassio? I think that was at the Donmar.
ETA: Here you go:http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2008/04/03/othello460.jpg
Hiddles in a leather jerkin never fails to meet my approval:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm4hjdyF5P1qzfsjbo1_500.jpg
And if you REALLY care, here’s a link to the audio:
http://www.amazon.com/Othello-Shakespeare/dp/9626349298/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367338821&sr=8-2&keywords=othello+audio+cd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqeGYzRNY4E
Didn’t want this to get lost, so I’m posting it separately to the other post.
I have a bit of an issue automatically wishing every black actor would play Othello. It isn’t a great role – he’s a dupe. Chewitel Ejiofor is a great actor – why not Hamlet, or Coriolanus, or Brutus (like Denzel did)?
Actually, Fanty, I agree with your last point there (well, and the leather jerkin approval but I can only handle so much right now). Actors of a certain caliber so be placed in better roles than Othello. Mr. Ejiofor would probably make a wonderful Hamlet. Although not my favorite Shakespearean play, I think they are juicy parts and I love the arcs hamlet goes through (now Chastain could be a good Ophelia) You know Shakespeare’s works far better than I so you would probably find many more roles for him. I just want to see him in anything, really.
I may get it for this but I was never crazy about Denzel’s Shakespeare. I will stand still so you know where to throw the stones.
If you all don’t stop bringing up interesting points I will never get down-thread to red the rest of the comments!
I think another cause of reserve in modern times is the overtones of domestic violence and the black man/white woman murder- too much history/bigotry/sterotypes in those scenes that unfortunately overtake the play itself.
@ Miss Jane,
That’s okay. The Denzel JC wasn’t great all-round. It’s definitely a more interesting choice than an Othello, though.
Hamlet’s Hamlet, you know? Everyone wants to do it, and it’s hard to get right, especially because we’re all so jaded about it. I loathed David Tennant’s Hamlet, and Cumby wants to do it, which is a pretty poor idea, too.
I love you, Kaiser. You should be in charge of casting movies, like, in ALL Hollywood.
This totally made my day.
Could the man be any sexier?
Macbeth wasn’t just a degenerate psycho serial killer, he was a masculine hero and someone people looked up to, before he became corrupted. A dark heroic anti-hero. Fassy is PERFECT.
And it’s so refreshing to see his face after all the pretty boys in Hollywood.
I prefer MacBeth to Hamlet too. I will be first in line to see this if it goes through!
Andrea Riseborough would make an amazing Lady Mcbeth.
Not sure why he would need to do a Scottish accent; an English accent would be fine (and it’s set in the 11th century, so who knows what the Scots sounded like then)?!
Riseborough would be good; people are also suggesting Kidman.
This is an exciting project.
Fassy, my love….
Finally some news about you…. <3
Every Irishman can do a Scottish accent.
I just had a dream that the Bluth’s were starring in a production of MacBeth.
Macbeth over Hamlet for me too. It’s one of my favorites. Heck, they’re all my favorite, what am I saying… except for The Tempest. What is that shit about? Seriously. I have attemped it so many times, and I am still so confused. Blah…
Here’s one man that does absolutely nothing for me.
I’d love to see a big, sumptuous remake of Taming of the Shrew, or some other comedy. Now THAT would be fun to cast.
Joss Whedon’s Much Ado is FABULOUS.
I’ve been waiting in anticipation of that. Wasn’t aware it was out yet.
I saw a preview and it looked…interesting? But I am talking something BIG, full-on costumed epic production. Old Hollywood style. I miss those.
I don’t think it is. I attended a preview at a Shakespeare conference. It’s so much fun and Nathan Fillion’s Dogberry is hilarious.
I would love to see Taming of the Shrew. My favorite comedy/Shakespeare play is Midsummer Nights Dream but I know that is done a lot.
Naturally, I concur.
”Macbeth is a violent, murderous psycho. He’s crazed with power, he’s destructive, and he’s probably a sociopath.”
Have you read the play? Macbeth is actually a very cautious person who has to be goaded by his wife into killing Duncan. He is also plauged by guilt for the rest of his life. he is very far from being a ‘sociopath’. That’s the whole point of the play – his caution and guilt. If he were a ‘psycho’ it just wouldn’t be very interesting.
Thanks, Christina, I was about to ask the same thing! Macbeth is a man torn by his natural, cautious nature, and the ambition and sexual manipulations of his wife. He is a complex, nuanced character, and most certainly NOT a violent, murderous psycho.
Remedy for this situation- read less gossip, more classical literature!
Exactly. I don’t think I’d ever seen such an inaccurate description of Macbeth’s character.
Right you are, Christina. He’s a cautious man goaded by his greedily-ambitious wife.
I just saw Alan Cumming’s MacBeth on Broadway. He was amazing!
Agree. Richard III came to mind when I read the description. Not Macbeth.
Shakespeare’s Richard III is a specifically commissioned piece of propaganda designed to make the real Richard III look bad, and to white wash the fact that the Tudors had ursurped the throne.
Any reading of the play should bear that in mind.
His reputation was already pretty bad. Shakey simply dramatized what was in Holinshed. The genius of Richard III is that in spite of him being absolute piece of work, he’s still the most likable character on the stage.
T. Fanty – Richard really wasn’t as bad as portrayed. I am not saying he was a saint either. It was a time of very slippery characters all round, and Richard never played the PR game to his own detriment though others did out of self interest or in many attempts to discredit him.
As they say, the winners write history, and with Shakespeare’s play, Richard’s alleged infamy was assured for centuries.
wow!!!
THIS, I want to see..love me some Fassy!!
I love him in good meaty roles that test his abilities.
this kinda made my day!
I’m loving the idea of him playing Macbeth! But no American actress as Lady Macbeth, please. And yes, I’m American. I’d love to see Emily Blunt in the role. Also, Fass is Irish with an Irish accent. It’s not THAT far off from a Scottish accent. I’m pretty sure it’ll be a breeze for him. Having said that, I have a feeling they’re going to go with an English accent for this version. Whatever the case, he’s gonna kill it and I cannot wait.
Whatever as long as they cast Tilda CGIed times three as the witches. I wish Cate Blanchett could play Lady Macbeth. And I would LOVE Fassy in Taming of the Shrew. With Rebecca Hall maybe.
Yes. This is fabulous dream casting. It is time for a Taming of The Shrew & I can see Fassy doing this. But who for Katerina?
Cate Blanchett would make a great Katherine, actually.
I like the idea of Emily Blunt – I had not thought of her. What does anyone think about Kiera Knightly for Lady M?
I’ve been watching the ShakespeaRe-Told series (thanks to some commenters who mentioned it in an older post! Thank you!) and now, everytime I hear “Macbeth”, I picture a shirtless James McAvoy in leather pants, gulping down milk.
It’s a good thing.
i love that series.
There is also a re-telling of the Cantebury Tales by Chaucer which is just as good.
I think Reese Witherspoon would make a good Lady MacBeth.
Ha! “Dost thou knoweth what is my name?”
HA! Perfect!
EXACTLY! That made me laugh, 🙂
😀 Thanks for the chuckle. Been a rough morning.
Your name is one of my favorite tv lines of all time – hope your day gets better!
He makes me feel funny in my no-no zone.
Hi Kitten. I’ve missed you round these parts.
Don’t you mean he makes you feel funny in your yes-yes(ohpleasedeargodyes)zone?
Aw thanks, I Chose Me 🙂
He DOES make me feel funny in my yes-god-yes zone and he also makes me want to make out with my computer monitor.
OMG YES. And why do you “hate to say” that Jessica Chastain would make a good Lady Macbeth? I think so too – she’s done Shakespeare before and trained classically at Juilliard. I know people here often say she’s overrated, but I have to disagree – I just saw Zero Dark Thirty, and she is fucking intense, and so different in every role. I can totally see her and Fassbender acting together. Please god, let this happen!
Also, those pictures of him are…making me need some alone time. Especially that second to last one.
Oh dear god, be still my pounding heart. This man is gorgeous. *swoon*
let’s keep w/the momentum though, Jessica C. would be good..
not kiera knightley, because those dresses have to have major boob spillage.
the costumes are going to be everything!
not only is Fassy sexy and a rugged in a single malt kinda way, but his acting slays me.
those pics are everything this morning!
I would love to see Fassy in Macbeth. And I agree, I much prefer Macbeth to Hamlet. Oooh it would be so exciting.
So..Michael was in this movie called Wedding Belles a while ago. And in that, he plays someone Scottish. There aren’t any clips of it online but he can do a Scottish accent very convincingly. If you want to see him dance however in the same movie…:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2yFIe1eslY
There are some clips of him doing the Scottish accent. He does well. I would think they would want to be as authentic as possible and Michael likes being authentic.
I think if it’s a manipulative woman you guys are looking for Chastain could do it, but Amy Addams has surprised me.I don’t know there are many. Someone mentioned Cate Blanchet.
Whatever he is in I will watch. He is so talented and I find him very attractive.
OMG Fassy in Macbeth???? #ShakespearePorn *faints*
Don’t even let me dream of a Fassy/Idris pairing in Othello , it might kill me.
Although TBH I didn’t care for Snowtown so IDK about thus director.
Holy s**t, Kaiser!!! Othello was never my favorite Shakespeare tragedy (King Lear!!), but that is some dream casting right there-Fassy and Idris?? The needs to happen STAT. Damn good idea.
Seriously, we need to like…open a Kickstarter account and get this to happen. It would be the best adaptation ever made, lol.
(Random aside, I love Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Why isn’t that staged more often? “Cry havoc and let slip the hounds of war!”)
Man, I love JC. I just saw the African version by the RSC. SO good. There’s a movie of it that’s well worth watching.
Hmmm I would watch Fassy as Macbeth but for actresses: would instantly drop this film if they cast Anne H. Nicole K is always considered but for me she has zero sex appeal to be believable for Lady M. Jessica C would be ok. I saw someone mentioned Andrea R, she would be good too. It would be my dream to see Rachel Weisz or Cate B but they probably have no time… I also personally think Gemma Arterton can do a good Lady M despite all the bad Hollywood action roles, she went to a classical acting school. Watch it be Charlize T or someone who’s hot like Jennifer L or random casting…
I got it! Rosamund Pike! She’s done Shakespeare before and has even played Hedda Gabler – Lady Macbeth has got to be a breeze after that.
The whole fuss about accent is funny when you consider that the original MacBeth that Shakespeare did a hatchet job on would have spoken “Old Irish” as his first language and not english (with a scotch accent)
MacBheatha after all means “son of life”.
-Paul
I would LOVE to see Tilda Swinton in the role of Lady Macbeth. Some might say that, at 52, she’s too old to play opposite Fassbender, but honestly, they look about the same age. The fact that she is also of Scottish descent, and lives in Scotland, would make it all the more perfect.
I don’t think there are any young actresses out there could pull off Lady MacBeth’s intense presence and sexuality. Tilda would be amazing, and amazing opposite Fassbender. They’re both deeply sexy people. I think the fact that she’s a bit older than him would bring a really interesting nuance to the relationship. However, if they need a pretty young thing, Natalie Dormer is BRINGING IT on Game of Thrones this season.
Agree. The role of Lady Macbeth requires an actress with depth and experience. Tilda would be perfect, and as you say, the fact that she’s older than Fassbender (though she really doesn’t look it) would actually add to the role.
Agree that Natalie Dormer would be good if they wanted a younger actress. At first I didn’t really like her as Anne Boleyn in ‘The Tudors’ but she really grew into the role. Cate Blanchett would also be fab, but she’s always fab.
Yes! Cate would be STELLAR!
Tilda would be my choice, but alas it looks like it is going to Natalie Portman.
Eva Green for Lady Macbeth! Eva Green with Fassy would burn the house down.
As a matter of fact…Eva Green for everything! She is riveting to watch.
Fassy is ridiculously beautiful in these pics.
Oh, the suggestion of Chiwetel Ejiafor for Othello—YES. Now I’m going to think about who should be Desdemona.
Eva Green is my favorite. My favorite everything.
On a side note, there seems to have been a dip in the number of Fassy posts lately–this will not stand!
There are many good suggestions for Lady M – Eva Green is great, I am liking the Natalie Dormer too. Tilda and Cate would be fantastic, no question, and I think and age difference between Lady and Macbeth would be engaging.
I am spending way too much time with this play lately…
Hello, Miss Eyre! I thought of Eva Green because she is so believable as a menacing presence. Gorgeous, sexy & scary. The series “Camelot” was watchable only because of Eva Green as Morgan LeFey & Joseph Fiennes (who was Merlin.)
Eva Green and Joseph Fiennes? Say no more, I shall take three!
Just FYI: Nextflix also has a contemporary version of Macbeth set in Australia with Sam Worthington that is pretty good.
LAK – Great points on Lady M and Winona Ryder in The Age of Innocence. However, I do think that Lady M is a very powerful character. Now it all depends on how we define what powerful is. Winona in The Age of Innocence is powerful because she is able to influence outcomes, only in a passive aggressive way. Lady M is far more complex than Macbeth, imo. I find her struggle between guilt and redemption fascinating. I’m still not sure if Lady M seeks redemption, but she’s definitely engulfed by guilt. Guilt as an emotion and as a concept in ethics and philosophy intrigues me. I wish to see more of Lady M centric films than Macbeth centric.
Since you mentioned Omkara, which is my favorite adaptation of Othello, have you seen Maqbool? It’s by the same director – Vishal Bharadwaj. Macbeth and Lady M, I think, are weakly written characters but performed well by the actor (Irfan Khan) who plays Macbeth in the movie. However, see it for Duncun and the two witches (not three).
OMG…great minds. I ordered MAQBOOL at the weekend.
Awesome! Let me know what you think of it. We should discuss the movie. In other news, it’s been announced that Vishal will start production on the adaptation of Hamlet or King Lear soon.
That should be amazing.
I have a deep love for Bollywood. Though not from the 80s. that was a terrible decade for it.
Natalie Portman has just been announced as Lady MacBeth.
Oh, no. No. No. No.
I’m paralyzed by this news. I’ve gone all monosyllabic.
Ah well. It was fun while it lasted.
@ EsCon:
She really wants to work with The Fass, doesn’t she? He was in that “Jane Got a Gun” movie — you know, the one whose director bailed out on the production (he had already left by then).
And now Portman’s been cast as lady MacBeth…I smell shenanigans (yes, I think the worst of Portman).
@Eve,
Is she stalking him now? I’m amazed that any casting person thinks this is a good idea. Would be interesting to know if she was their first choice.
Maybe Gwyneth Paltrow was busy? Or just doesn’t have the strength to play Lady Mac, what with living only on oxygen & Vichy water.
This is awful.
NO, just no!
Noooooooooooooo!
Syndicated Press: “It has just been announced that a Miss J. Eyre has bound and gagged Ms. Portman and is forcing her to watch Gigli on loop until Ms. Portman agrees to un-attach herself from the Macbeth film starring Michael Fassbender. The studio executives responsible for casting Ms. Portman have been sent instructions on how to pull their heads from their asses and a bottle of lube to assist (lavender scented).
We are also being told that there are some demands being made of Ms. Portman to describe how Thor kisses in great detail but those reports have not been confirmed.”
Bless you.
And in a moving display of solidarity, a pack of women calling themselves only The Bitches, have assembled at the Los Angeles Police Station to bail Miss Jane Eyre out. Her husband Mr. Rochester was notified, but was unable to make his way to the front door of his home without his wife’s assistance.
We are told that Miss Eyre has been properly sedated with lavender tea, & has removed her bonnet, which was pinching proper oxygen flow to the brain.
We are told that Miss Eyre may well have eluded capture had she not insisted on travelling from the scene in a Pomeranian-drawn chariot.
Dying the true death at this news. DYING. Of all the actresses…HER? After he ditched her ‘Jane Got a Gun’ I’m more than a little surprised about this. Is she stalking him? She couldn’t have him in ‘Jane’ so now she’s followed him to ‘Macbeth’? Ugh, so pissed off by this.
Probably, she read this blind item (www.crazydaysandnights.net/2013/04/blind-items-revealed_1895.html) andrealized she’s the only to whom he said no but she doesn’t admit her defeat
Glad I’m not the only one less than enthused about this. Gross.
Natalie P. NOoooooooooooooooooooooooo
She can’t do accents and she’s just terrible in historical movies…what’s the one with Scarlet? Ugh…the excitement + love instantly gone; even Fassy can’t make me watch her as Lady Macbeth.
I’m so disappointed by this.
Tilda
Cate
Nicole
Charlize
Eva
There are so many actresses who should have been casted in this role; I’m side eyeing Natalie as well.
/sigh
He’s damn hot, but incredibly wrinkled for a 36 year old.
I’ve developed a crush on Fassy (well, Prometheus, synthetic human David Fassy) but I wish he’d spiff up the hair a bit and lose the face scruff – looks sooo much better when he’s neatly groomed. But oh well, I guess I can still adore a mussy Fassy if I have to. Now what’s this I hear about him being a hard drinking, whip it out every time they ask to look at it, kind of guy??? 😉
I read that Natalie Portman was set to play Lady Macbeth. Hmmm. I don’t see it. Maybe the curvy red head from Mad Men?