Hollywood legend Al Pacino is set to play King Lear in writer-director Bernard Rose’s Lear Rex, opposite Jessica Chastain. As the name implies, Lear Rex is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play King Lear.
Barry Navidi is the producer of the film. It marks Navidi’s fifth film with Pacino. The duo’s previous collaborations include The Merchant of Venice, Wilde Salomé, Salomé, and Modí.
The film follows King Lear at an old age as he gives his daughters an equal share of his property to keep any bitter disagreement from arising between them. The king has three daughters, but he puts more trust in his malicious daughters, who not only make him powerless but also drive him into a place of insanity and horror. Chastain will play the king’s eldest daughter, Goneril. The rest of the cast announcements are yet to be made.
“This project has been Al’s labor of love for over a decade,” said producer Navidi in a recent media interaction. “I am overjoyed to bring this amazing venture to the screen with Bernard Rose’s brilliant adaptation and bold unique vision. I am so excited to team up again with Jess since Pacino’s Wilde Salomé.
On the other hand, writer-director Rose said, “Al and I are going to make a bold, cinematic Lear that will be as accessible moving and powerful as the play was for its original audiences. I am thrilled to have Jessica Chastain join us on this journey.”
The film’s shoot is set to commence in LA this summer.