Patrick Stewart and John Logan are set to team up for a modern take on Shakespeare’s The Merchant Of Venice. We get the scoop from the movieweb:
“He’s carrying on that association with the Bard with his next film project, producing and starring in a film version of The Merchant Of Venice, set in the Las Vegas of the 20th century. The screenplay was written by John Logan, the man behind Hollywood successes such as The Last Samurai and The Aviator.
The idea came out of an argument the two had after Logan described it as a “loathsome play”.
“I spent half an hour arguing the contrary,” says Patrick. “He said, Would you like it if I started working on a screen project for nothing?’ He earns about $2 million a project, so I thought it was a decent offer.
I am not going to lie and pretend that I read a lot of Shakespeare. What I will tell you is that I am not a huge fan of the movie adaptations of his work. I have no way to compare them to the origional work, but I can say that I do not find most of the films enjoyable. What I have historically disliked greatly is the “modern” adaptations of Shakespeare’s work. I want to see the story told in the intended period not in modern day Las Vegas.
All this being said, I find it refreshing and humorous that the project came to be through an argument. The fact that Logan loathed the play but is still willing to work with it, in order to make the best film possible is a testament to his desire to tackle a challenge. Then consider that he is doing it for free, in order to work something out with Stewart. This story itself would make a great film.
Although I am not a fan of modern interpretations of Shakespeare, I am a huge fan of Stewart. Both on and off the Enterprise, I consider him a master of his craft. I will see this film, if for no other reason, than to celebrate a movie born in argument.
