Robert Eggers’ Romeo and Juliet Update Debunks Intriguing Detail About New Movie
A key detail surrounding Robert Eggers’ upcoming cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been corrected, setting the record straight on how the historical project will approach its dialogue.
Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter cleared up confusion over the language that will be used in the film. Early reports mentioned that Eggers planned to have the cast speak Old English, but newer production information says that is not the case.
“Correction: Sources have confirmed to me that Eggers’ Romeo and Juliet will not be in Olde English but rather in Elizabethan English, aka early modern English,” Kit tweeted.
Instead, the actors will reportedly speak authentic Elizabethan English, also known as Early Modern English. This is the form of English used during Shakespeare’s lifetime and keeps the dialogue much closer to the language, rhythm, and style of the original play.
Old English, meanwhile, refers to the language spoken in England centuries before Shakespeare. It was used during the Anglo-Saxon period and would not have been the language of Shakespeare’s 16th-century characters.
The clarification fits with Eggers’ reputation for paying close attention to historical detail. The filmmaker has previously used period-specific language and settings in movies including The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman, and Nosferatu.
What else do we know about Robert Eggers’ Romeo and Juliet movie?
Eggers’ Romeo and Juliet landed at Focus Features after a bidding battle involving several major studios, including A24, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. The project continues Eggers’ relationship with Focus, which previously backed The Northman and Nosferatu.
The studio is also behind Eggers’ upcoming historical horror movie Werwulf, which will arrive in theaters this Christmas.
The upcoming adaptation will reportedly carry a production budget of just under $80 million, putting it among the filmmaker’s largest productions to date. The movie is expected to place Shakespeare’s tragedy in a carefully recreated 16th-century Italian setting.
Casting for Romeo and Juliet is still underway, with no official confirmation on the two lead roles yet. The project will follow the famous story of the young lovers from rival families whose relationship leads to tragedy.
Source: Comingsoon.net