10 Things You Need To Know About Michael Fassbender's Macbeth
With the new adaptation out in October, here's what we know so far
The Justin Kurzel adaptation of Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender, has been bubbling away for a couple of years now and is inching close to its big release; the film premièred at Cannes in May and is set for an October 2 release date across the UK. Adaptations of Shakespeare's work have always been inconsistent in terms of how successfully they translate to the big screen and modern day audiences. This is perhaps unsurprising, given the antiquated language, and in some cases, themes within The Bard's work. For example, it's difficult to put together a successful retelling of The Taming Of The Shrew in a world where misogyny is no longer the default. That said, the source material will always be incredibly rich in terms of character, while pretty much all of Shakespeare's plays have something to say about the world we live in now. There will always be a dedicated audience for this kind of thing, however difficult it might be for some to grasp. Starring in the titular role, Fassbender's wide appeal looks set to give this adaptation a big box office boost. Who knows, this film might just combine profits with a version of the play worthy of the original material, and this is no mean feat in a market where short attention spans and instant gratification are king. Not convinced? Here are 10 things you need to know about the new Macbeth movie before you see it.