It’ll mark Joel’s first directorial credit without his brother, Ethan
Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand are set to be cast in Joel Coen’s forthcoming film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth.
The project will see Joel directing on his own for the first time, with his brother and regular creative partner Ethan not involved in the project. Together, the pair have worked on such acclaimed films as Fargo, The Big Lebowski and the recent Netflix anthology The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
According to Variety, Coen has written a script based on Shakespeare’s original text and will direct the film. Washington will star as the titular Scottish general while McDormand will play his wife, Lady Macbeth.
Joel Coen
Shooting on this latest version of Macbeth will reportedly begin later this year. A24 will distribute the film, which Scott Rudin will produce.
The project will see McDormand reuniting with Coen once again: the Oscar-winning actress has starred in such Coen Brothers films as Burn After Reading, Raising Arizona and the aforementioned Fargo. Washington, on the other hand, has never collaborated with either Coen brother on a film.
Back in November, Washington was among the stars to mark the 25th anniversary of the seminal film Philadelphia. Along with the movie’s lead Tom Hanks, Washington appeared in a powerful video which highlighted the progress made in tackling HIV and AIDS since Philadelphia‘s release.
