Joss Whedon's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Acquired by Lionsgate
Lionsgate has acquired North American distribution rights to Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing, which was recently screened at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
The film was shot in 12 days and is a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. It stars Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Sean Maher, Clark Gregg, and Reed Diamond.
Whedon had this to say about the acquisition:
I’m thrilled to be working with my cronies at Lionsgate again, and with The Roadside team. That they all embrace a Shakespearean romance with the same enthusiasm they had for 'Cabin in the Woods' shows that they’re exactly the mad fools we want to be partying – I mean working – with.
Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, added,
We're so happy to once again be working with Joss Whedon after our great experience on Cabin in the Woods. Who else can tackle horror, superheroes and Shakespeare all in one year? We look forward to working closely with Bellwether Pictures to help audiences discover this wonderful and timeless comedy.
I'm excited about seeing this film for myself, it's been getting a lot of positive buzz from the festival, and sounds like a movie film lovers will enjoy. Here are a few things that some other movie sites have said about the movie:
The result is an utter joy, Whedon’s most emotionally resonant and fully realized feature film to date. And I say that as one who is not a devoted member of the Whedon army. It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed much of his work – I have, often. But I’ve not seen every episode of “Buffy” and “Firefly,” I never meandered into “Dollhouse,” and I thought “Dr. Horrible” was worth one viewing, but no more. Happily, outside of actor recognition, Whedon fanaticism is not a requirement to enjoy “Much Ado.”
The cast takes great delight in the text, and Whedon’s obvious love for the cast is reflected in the way he allows them room to play. [...] I’ve been a fan of Whedon’s work since “Buffy,” and it’s great seeing Denisof and Acker anchor a cast like this and stretch in a way we haven’t seen before. They both shine in their roles, and it makes me wonder why Whedon has to be the one giving them such good parts. Shouldn’t everyone else have caught on by this point?
this is a film true to Shakespeare's practice of employing all means at hand to keep the crowd entertained -- even if it means getting Clark Gregg (as Leonato), that impeccably professional agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., to get drunk and shake his ass.
Written, directed, and produced by Whedon, the film follows Claudio (Kranz) and Benedick (Denisof ) who have just returned home to Messina after a successful campaign abroad. When earnest Claudio announces his adoration for the lovely Hero (Morgese), daughter of Messina's governor Leonato (Gregg), the acid-tongued Benedick teases him mercilessly. Benedick's scorn for love is matched by that of his long-time nemesis and verbal sparring partner Beatrice (Acker), Leonato's niece. As the lovestruck Claudio and Hero make plans to marry, Benedick and Beatrice resume the "merry war" of insults they have long waged. Yet there are many who believe that for all their antagonism — or even because of it — this pair of incessantly sniping cynics is surely meant to be a couple. As matchmaking schemes are put into play and disguises are donned, loathing and love soon prove to be close cousins.