Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing Trailer


Editor

Finally! For those of us who don’t frequent film festivals and have yet to see Joss Whedon’s “Much Ado About Nothing”, here’s a trailer to ease the wait to the film’s theatrical release.

Much Ado About Nothing is set to open June 7, 2013 in the US and June 14, 2013 in the UK.

  • http://twitter.com/RavenclawHallow Tricia

    It looks great. And honestly with the selection of actors I don’t believe anyone needs to be told that this is by Joss Whedon. Therefore it’s probably going to be amazing and witty, which I greatly look forward to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/zoe.desousa Zoe DeSousa

    David Tennant shall always be my Benedick and Catherine Tate my Beatrice.

    • Chaya

      My mother and sister both won the lottery for that while we were on vacation in London so they saw it, I didn’t. I’ve heard it was the best version ever. I must say though, having not had the pleasure of seeing it, I’m quite partial to Kenneth and Emma myself.

  • http://www.facebook.com/GermanicLady Kathrin ‘Lily’ Franke

    I agree, Zoe. Though for me Kenneth and Emma aren’t far behind. And Tricia… it would be amazing and witty anyway – it’s Shakespeare! What else do you expect? Anyway when is it out?

    • Chaya

      June 7, 2013

      • http://www.facebook.com/GermanicLady Kathrin ‘Lily’ Franke

        Yeah, thanks. I just checked IMDB earlier and found out myself.

  • Andrew Hanson

    I wanted to be excited about this trailer, but I found it difficult to watch. Firstly, I love Kenneth and Emma so entirely that it’s impossible for my mind to accept any alternative in the roles of Benedick and Beatrice. Secondly, I CAN’T STAND SHAKESPEARE IN A MODERN SETTING. Call me a purist if you like, but I’ve seen far too many stage productions that have tried to bring Shakespeare into a modern setting and have FAILED MISERABLY. I can’t watch them. I don’t mean West Side Story or 10 Things I Hate About You, because they are, obviously, modern language in a modern setting. But Shakespearean language in a modern setting? It makes me cringe.

    • http://www.facebook.com/GermanicLady Kathrin ‘Lily’ Franke

      Firstly – the trailer: it’s not easy to watch but, for me, that doesn’t have anything to do with the subject matter but more with the fact that it jumps around a bit too much for my liking.
      Secondly: I like Kenneth and Emma too. But my favourite pairing is David Tennant and Catherine Tate in a modernized version available on Digital Theatre. It’s filmed directly off the stage (unlike David’s Hamlet which is modern dress too) and the two of them really hit it from the word go. The only major change I could identify was that Leonato has a wife instead of a brother. Kenneth and Emma are really good too but a bit more muted (not sure they were still married when they shot it). And stating the obvious – in a film you can do stuff on the historical level which is impossible on stage, like riding.
      And since most of Shakespeare’s plays are set in a court (be it royal or otherwise) I don’t have a problem with a modern set as long as that still shines through – even if they use Shakespearean language – since nobility is still ‘at large’ in most of Europe. They might not have their actual powers anymore (like in Germany) but I think that society is still rather different from what ‘normal’ people live in. And even more so in places like the UK and Denmark that actually still have Royal Families. And the themes are hugely relevant in our times, too, of course.
      I know it’s really hard to not compare stage and screen or different actors playing the same part – especially if you really like one particular interpretation. I know Shakespeare isn’t an exclusive of the British, nor should he be, but more than modern or historical setting I really don’t like American accents (like in Kenneth’s film) speaking those lines. But a lot has to do with the actors, not saying the Americans in Kenneth’s are bad actors – I just don’t think they were the best for the roles they were cast for. It might also have something to do with the fact that I think (correct me if I’m wrong) in the US the theatre isn’t as big a thing for young actors as it is in the UK, where they pretty much start out on stage. Thing about theatre is that you have one chance to get it right for however long the play runs unlike on film where you can try and try again – and I think theatre gives you more presence too.

      There are some completely modern versions (language and all) of Much Ado, Macbeth and Taming of the Shrew on youtube of which I really like the latter two while Much Ado really doesn’t hit it for me (with neither of the couples).

      So rather than saying modern or not I think it depends on the actors playing the parts. You can get a historical or modern setting and have a brilliant script but if the actors can’t live up to it it won’t work. Or to speak with David Tennant “You can destroy a good script [with bad acting] but you can’t make a bad one good [no matter how well you cast the parts].”

      Sorry this got a bit longer than I meant it to…