Paul Giamatti Joins Latest Adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Will play Friar Lawrence when filming begins in Italy latest this month.
Paul Giamatti has joined Romeo and Juliet, the latest movie adaptation of the already much filmed William Shakespeare romance about the two most famous star-crossed lovers. Directed by Carlo Carlei in his native Italy, the drama touted as "Romeo and Juliet" for the "Twilight" generation (just what we needed, right?) will begin filming at the end of the month and stars Douglas Booth and Oscar nominated True Grit star Hailee Steinfeld in the title roles. Ed Westwick and Kodi Smit-McPhee will play their cousins, Tybalt and Bernvolio with Giamatti joining as Friar Lawrence, advisor to Romeo and Juliet. Downton Abbey and Gosford Park writer Julian Fellows has wrote the screenplay for Amber Entertainment and Italy's Indiana Production. The film will shoot in Mantau (where Romeo is banished in the play) and at Rome's Cinecitta Studios, but don't get carried away in thinking they have filmed over there to make sure it is as authentic to the Shakespeare play as possible. It is also to enjoy the generous tax breaks in Italy that foreign films get over there. If you couldn't tell by the actors chosen, Carlei's film will be in the English-language. source - variety