Joss Lives...and is doing Shakespeare! O_O

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Santa Monica, CA (October 24th, 2011)

 

Bellwether Pictures proudly announces the completion of principal photography on

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, a modern version of Shakespeare’s classic comedy

adapted and directed by Joss Whedon (Marvel’s upcoming THE AVENGERS, “Dr.

Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”). Filmed in just 12 days entirely on location in exotic Santa

Monica, the film features a stellar cast of beloved (or soon to be beloved) actors – some

of them veterans of Shakespearean theater, some completely new to the form. But all

dedicated to the idea that this story bears retelling, that this dialogue is as fresh and

intoxicating as any being written, and that the joy of working on a passion project

surrounded by dear friends, admired colleagues and an atmosphere of unabashed rapture

far outweighs their hilariously miniature paychecks.

 

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is the first feature from Bellwether, a micro-studio

created by Joss Whedon and Kai Cole for the production of small, independent narratives

for all media, embracing a DIY ethos and newer technologies for, in this particular case, a

somewhat older story.

 

Shot in glorious black and white by Jay Hunter (PAPER HEART, “Dollhouse”), the film

stars Amy Acker (CABIN IN THE WOODS, “Alias”) and Alexis Denisof (“How I Met

Your Mother”, “Angel”) as Beatrice and Benedick, the world’s least likely lovers headed

for their inevitable tumble into love. As Joss Whedon puts it: “The text is to me a

deconstruction of the idea of love, which is ironic, since the entire production is a love

letter – to the text, to the cast, even to the house it’s shot in.” The supporting cast

includes Nathan Fillion (“Castle”, WAITRESS) as Dogberry, Clark Gregg (AVENGERS,

IRON MAN) as Leonato, Fran Kranz (CABIN IN THE WOODS, “Dollhouse”) as

Claudio and Reed Diamond (“Franklin & Bash”, MONEYBALL) as Don Pedro.

The film was produced by Whedon, line-produced by Nathan Kelly and M. Elizabeth

Hughes, and co-produced by Kai Cole and Danny Kaminsky. The super-impressive cast

is listed below. Full tech credits (for the extraordinary crew) will be up shortly. The film

should be completed by early spring and headed for the festival circuit, because it is

fancy.

 

The Players:

Amy Acker - Beatrice

Alexis Denisof - Benedick

Nathan Fillion - Dogberry

Clark Gregg - Leonato

Reed Diamond - Don Pedro

Fran Kranz - Claudio

Sean Maher - Don JohnSpencer Treat Clark - Borachio

Riki Lindhome - Conrade

Ashley Johnson - Margaret

Emma Bates - Ursula

Tom Lenk - Verges

Nick Kocher - First Watchman

Brian McElhaney - Second Watchman

Joshua Zar - Leonato’s aide

Paul M. Meston - Friar Francis

Romy Rosemont - The Sexton

And introducing Jillian Morgese as Hero

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The man is a talent, and will tackle anything. Go Joss Whedon!