(Image courtesy of 20th Century Studios)
The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed on Tuesday, September 22, that "The Northman" director Robert Eggers will next adapt William Shakespeare's classic tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" for the big screen.
The project recently sparked a fierce Hollywood bidding war, with Focus Features, A24, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures all competing for the rights. Focus ultimately prevailed, extending its relationship with Eggers after distributing several of his films, including "The Lighthouse" and "Nosferatu."
(Image courtesy of Focus Features)
Focus has reportedly offered Eggers a $70 million production budget, a sizable sum for a drama. Known for his meticulous commitment to historical authenticity, Eggers also plans to have the entire film performed in "Old English," taking the same approach as "Werwulf," which is set to hit theaters this Christmas.
Eggers has increasingly turned his attention to reinventing classic properties. "Werwulf" marks his take on the werewolf genre, while "Nosferatu" remade the silent classic "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror." He is also developing a sequel to "Labyrinth" and a new adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" set to star his longtime collaborator Willem Dafoe.