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October 24, 2011 10:36 AM Subscribe
"Bellwether Pictures is proud to announce (PDF) the completion of principal photography: Much Ado About Nothing. A film by Joss Whedon, based on a play." Announced by near simultaneous tweets from various members of the cast and crew, it seems Whedon used his 2-week vacation from some other small film to shoot an adaptation of the Bard's play at his house. One of the more amazing details is how this was all kept under wraps, and pretty much all mainstream coverage is based on fan sites and Twitter. Based on the press release, the movie will be hitting festival circuits next year, which means 2012 will have 3 Whedon releases: this, The Avengers, and The Cabin in the Woods.
Whedon has been known to regularly host Shakespeare readings at his house.
Whedon has been known to regularly host Shakespeare readings at his house.
He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.
posted by googly at 10:45 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by googly at 10:45 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Needs more Keanu Reeves.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:47 AM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:47 AM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Much as I respect Whedon, I'm holding out for this cast's film version. (Should it ever see light.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:58 AM on October 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:58 AM on October 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.
Well said.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:12 AM on October 24, 2011
Well said.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:12 AM on October 24, 2011
EmpressCallipygos: "Much as I respect Whedon, I'm holding out for this cast's film version. (Should it ever see light.)"
Reacting to hearing this news earlier with the thought that it might create a (completely imaginary) stumbling block to prevent a (as far as I know wholly unplanned) Tate/Tennant film version from ever being made really made it really obvious to me which side my geek bread is buttered on.*
(Well, it was obvious to me before.)
That said, my first reaction was 'sounds neat, and I'm all for neatness.
* My geek bread is actually buttered with peanut butter and jelly babies.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:20 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Reacting to hearing this news earlier with the thought that it might create a (completely imaginary) stumbling block to prevent a (as far as I know wholly unplanned) Tate/Tennant film version from ever being made really made it really obvious to me which side my geek bread is buttered on.*
(Well, it was obvious to me before.)
That said, my first reaction was 'sounds neat, and I'm all for neatness.
* My geek bread is actually buttered with peanut butter and jelly babies.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:20 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
villanelles at dawn: "Needs more Keanu Reeves."
There's not much in the world that needs less Keanu than Much Ado About Nothing.
OK, maybe Dracula
posted by octothorpe at 11:22 AM on October 24, 2011
There's not much in the world that needs less Keanu than Much Ado About Nothing.
OK, maybe Dracula
posted by octothorpe at 11:22 AM on October 24, 2011
Reacting to hearing this news earlier with the thought that it might create a (completely imaginary) stumbling block to prevent a (as far as I know wholly unplanned) Tate/Tennant film version from ever being made really made it really obvious to me which side my geek bread is buttered on.
There are occasional vague rumblings that they'll release a video of the stage show, nothing filmed-on-location or anything like that. Right now "vague rumblings" is all they've got.
But I am a rabid little fangirl living in hope and so I keep checking. (Saw it live. David Tennant dressed up as Madonna circa Desperately-Seeking-Susan is a sight more people should see.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
There are occasional vague rumblings that they'll release a video of the stage show, nothing filmed-on-location or anything like that. Right now "vague rumblings" is all they've got.
But I am a rabid little fangirl living in hope and so I keep checking. (Saw it live. David Tennant dressed up as Madonna circa Desperately-Seeking-Susan is a sight more people should see.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Octothorpe, have you not seen the Kenneth Branagh Much Ado... with Keanu? It's really quite good.
posted by humboldt32 at 11:30 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by humboldt32 at 11:30 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
exeunt because Michael Keaton is going too
posted by villanelles at dawn at 11:30 AM on October 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by villanelles at dawn at 11:30 AM on October 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
humboldt32: "Octothorpe, have you not seen the Kenneth Branagh Much Ado... with Keanu? It's really quite good."
It's quite good except for every scene with him in it. Thus my joke.
posted by octothorpe at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2011
It's quite good except for every scene with him in it. Thus my joke.
posted by octothorpe at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2011
I found Keanu far less objectionable in the KB-MAAN than I did Micheal Keaton's Dogberry.
posted by phearlez at 11:40 AM on October 24, 2011
posted by phearlez at 11:40 AM on October 24, 2011
He chose the wrong Whedon alumni. Fran Kranz, okay, but where's Enver Gjokai? Dichen Lachman? Olivia Williams? And though I really liked him more in BSG than in Dollhouse, Tahmoh Penikett?
I would watch this AND the Tate/Tennant version. Even if their version was just ("just") the filmed version of a performance.
posted by jeather at 11:43 AM on October 24, 2011
I would watch this AND the Tate/Tennant version. Even if their version was just ("just") the filmed version of a performance.
posted by jeather at 11:43 AM on October 24, 2011
Thank you, Mefi. I'm writing a poem where God pitches a TV series and, before you reminded me, it almost went to Abrams.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:45 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:45 AM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fair enough.
posted by humboldt32 at 11:47 AM on October 24, 2011
posted by humboldt32 at 11:47 AM on October 24, 2011
I must say one thing about Mr. Whedon. Once you are on his friends list, you seem to be on it for life.
posted by Samizdata at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Samizdata at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
He chose the wrong Whedon alumni. Fran Kranz, okay, but where's Enver Gjokai? Dichen Lachman? Olivia Williams? And though I really liked him more in BSG than in Dollhouse, Tahmoh Penikett?
I assume a lot of it is based on availability. Though at least Enver Gjokaj is in the Avengers.
And I forgot to include this in the post: Costume designer Shawna Trpcic (Whedon vet) with Nathan Fillion, presumably in costume.
posted by kmz at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2011
I assume a lot of it is based on availability. Though at least Enver Gjokaj is in the Avengers.
And I forgot to include this in the post: Costume designer Shawna Trpcic (Whedon vet) with Nathan Fillion, presumably in costume.
posted by kmz at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2011
I must say one thing about Mr. Whedon. Once you are on his friends list, you seem to be on it for life.
This brings me to mind of two thoughts:
1.) How do I get on this list. It seems like it would be a fun place to be.
2.) His tendency to use people from his previous work as cameos is either going to make The Avengers a lot of fun, or really irritating. (I'm praying for the former, but either way, I'm counting on it being an hour or so of Downey Jr, snarking at everyone else's expense, and that alone should be enough to hold me over.)
posted by quin at 12:07 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
This brings me to mind of two thoughts:
1.) How do I get on this list. It seems like it would be a fun place to be.
2.) His tendency to use people from his previous work as cameos is either going to make The Avengers a lot of fun, or really irritating. (I'm praying for the former, but either way, I'm counting on it being an hour or so of Downey Jr, snarking at everyone else's expense, and that alone should be enough to hold me over.)
posted by quin at 12:07 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Whedon's stuff is (big) hit or (slight) miss for me, but it seems like the more control he has the better it is, so I'm looking forward to this for sure. Dr. Horrible is about the best thing ever put to film, imo, in spite of the fact that it looks like it cost a couple of bucks to make. Or maybe partly because of that fact.
posted by Huck500 at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Huck500 at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
where's Enver Gjokaj? Dichen Lachman?
...
I assume a lot of it is based on availability.
Dichen Lachman is co-starring in an indie romantic comedy under production right now called Lust for Love, though then again so is Fran Kranz, so I dunno. Enver Gjokaj may be involved as well. A bunch of other actors from prior Whedon projects are on the cast list too.
posted by jedicus at 12:12 PM on October 24, 2011
...
I assume a lot of it is based on availability.
Dichen Lachman is co-starring in an indie romantic comedy under production right now called Lust for Love, though then again so is Fran Kranz, so I dunno. Enver Gjokaj may be involved as well. A bunch of other actors from prior Whedon projects are on the cast list too.
posted by jedicus at 12:12 PM on October 24, 2011
His tendency to use people from his previous work as cameos is either going to make The Avengers a lot of fun, or really irritating.
The fanboy in me is hoping for Whedon to have read the false rumors of Fillion as Ant-Man and made them true, even if it is a blink-and-you-miss-it throwaway bit ("Hey, Hank, how's the research going" or something like that).
posted by zombieflanders at 12:21 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
The fanboy in me is hoping for Whedon to have read the false rumors of Fillion as Ant-Man and made them true, even if it is a blink-and-you-miss-it throwaway bit ("Hey, Hank, how's the research going" or something like that).
posted by zombieflanders at 12:21 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
His tendency to use people from his previous work as cameos is either going to make The Avengers a lot of fun, or really irritating.
The only cameo I know of is Gjokaj, though of course who knows if there's more. The only other Whedon affiliated cast is Cobie Smulders by way of HIMYM. And Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner have been in Whedon stuff before (sort of, in the case of Hemsworth, who's in Cabin in the Woods), but I don't think they count.
posted by kmz at 12:23 PM on October 24, 2011
The only cameo I know of is Gjokaj, though of course who knows if there's more. The only other Whedon affiliated cast is Cobie Smulders by way of HIMYM. And Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner have been in Whedon stuff before (sort of, in the case of Hemsworth, who's in Cabin in the Woods), but I don't think they count.
posted by kmz at 12:23 PM on October 24, 2011
Huck500 is absolutely correct, Dr. Horrible is one of the best things on film, ever (along with Once More With Feeling, man can that guy do musicals), and Joss Whedon's casting is usually pretty damn good, but no one will ever convince me that Dichen Lachman deserves the title of actor, or that she knows what an emotion is. That girl redefines "wooden". The episode of Dollhouse where she had to doll up as some kind of well to do British lady... i still have nightmares.
posted by los_aburridos at 12:31 PM on October 24, 2011
posted by los_aburridos at 12:31 PM on October 24, 2011
Joss Whedon saved my marriage.*
Here I was, married to this beautiful woman who was perfect for me in every way but one: she didn't like geeky sci-fi shows. That fact that I'm ok with watching musicals and rom-coms made our evening activites bearable, but secretly I wished that I could share with her all my favorite weird and quirky geek shows.
So one day, as an experiment, I left my DVD set of Firefly beside the TV set. I said, "Just try it out honey. watch the pilot and at least one episode and get back to me. I won't watch it with you, no pressure. Take your time." Two weeks came an went and one day I came home to find her watching the second Firefly episode. I said:
"So, you finally got around to watching it, eh?"
"Um. Yeah. This is my second time through."
Violin music started playing and little Whedon-faced cherubs descended from the corners of my vision, the room awash in golden hues and hearts dancing in my face. Next thing I knew she was talking seriously about attending Comic-Con and watching Buffy and maybe even trying some new Dr. Who next thing you know Dr. Horrible is on the Netflix queue and suddenly we were in love again.
So thank you, Joss. Whatever dumb shit you pull in the future is pre-forgiven because you turned my already awesome wife into a geek.
*Upon the retelling I'm starting to wonder if it was actually Nathan Fillion, not Joss Whedon who converted my wife to the fold. She's seriously into him in a way which causes me to question my own worthiness as a mate, as it were.
posted by Doleful Creature at 12:33 PM on October 24, 2011 [17 favorites]
Here I was, married to this beautiful woman who was perfect for me in every way but one: she didn't like geeky sci-fi shows. That fact that I'm ok with watching musicals and rom-coms made our evening activites bearable, but secretly I wished that I could share with her all my favorite weird and quirky geek shows.
So one day, as an experiment, I left my DVD set of Firefly beside the TV set. I said, "Just try it out honey. watch the pilot and at least one episode and get back to me. I won't watch it with you, no pressure. Take your time." Two weeks came an went and one day I came home to find her watching the second Firefly episode. I said:
"So, you finally got around to watching it, eh?"
"Um. Yeah. This is my second time through."
Violin music started playing and little Whedon-faced cherubs descended from the corners of my vision, the room awash in golden hues and hearts dancing in my face. Next thing I knew she was talking seriously about attending Comic-Con and watching Buffy and maybe even trying some new Dr. Who next thing you know Dr. Horrible is on the Netflix queue and suddenly we were in love again.
So thank you, Joss. Whatever dumb shit you pull in the future is pre-forgiven because you turned my already awesome wife into a geek.
*Upon the retelling I'm starting to wonder if it was actually Nathan Fillion, not Joss Whedon who converted my wife to the fold. She's seriously into him in a way which causes me to question my own worthiness as a mate, as it were.
posted by Doleful Creature at 12:33 PM on October 24, 2011 [17 favorites]
Enver Gjokai? Dichen Lachman? Olivia Williams? And though I really liked him more in BSG than in Dollhouse, Tahmoh Penikett?
The first time I watched Dollhouse and saw some of those names come up on the screen, I thought it was going to be like in some movie title sequences where the names start scrambled and then un-scramble.
posted by not that girl at 12:42 PM on October 24, 2011 [7 favorites]
The first time I watched Dollhouse and saw some of those names come up on the screen, I thought it was going to be like in some movie title sequences where the names start scrambled and then un-scramble.
posted by not that girl at 12:42 PM on October 24, 2011 [7 favorites]
A film by Joss Whedon, based on a play.
This is why I can't be one of the people who genuflect at him.
posted by CarlRossi at 1:00 PM on October 24, 2011
This is why I can't be one of the people who genuflect at him.
posted by CarlRossi at 1:00 PM on October 24, 2011
I would watch this AND the Tate/Tennant version.
Clearly they need to release them as a double DVD thing. Thus uniting all of nerdom together for one brief moment.
I also saw the Tate/Tennant one live, and I had to seriously focus to stop myself from just thinking "OH SHIT I COULD RUN UP THERE AND TOUCH DAVID TENNANT!!" the whole time.
posted by grapesaresour at 1:18 PM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Clearly they need to release them as a double DVD thing. Thus uniting all of nerdom together for one brief moment.
I also saw the Tate/Tennant one live, and I had to seriously focus to stop myself from just thinking "OH SHIT I COULD RUN UP THERE AND TOUCH DAVID TENNANT!!" the whole time.
posted by grapesaresour at 1:18 PM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Towards the denoument, Borachio, discovered, shoots an arrow back at his pursuers. The arrow misses, flies offstage, and then Hero staggers out and dies with this very arrow in her chest, before she can recite any dying lines.
Or David Boreanaz will do a cameo and leave Beatrice dead in her bed.
(I know that I will watch this, and I maybe can stave off some bitterness if I see some shit coming.)
posted by Danf at 1:35 PM on October 24, 2011
Or David Boreanaz will do a cameo and leave Beatrice dead in her bed.
(I know that I will watch this, and I maybe can stave off some bitterness if I see some shit coming.)
posted by Danf at 1:35 PM on October 24, 2011
This is why I can't be one of the people who genuflect at him.
I'm pretty sure that's a little joke.
posted by kmz at 1:43 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty sure that's a little joke.
posted by kmz at 1:43 PM on October 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Doleful Creature: Violin music started playing and little Whedon-faced cherubs descended from the corners of my vision, the room awash in golden hues and hearts dancing in my face. Next thing I knew she was talking seriously about attending Comic-Con and watching Buffy and maybe even trying some new Dr. Who next thing you know Dr. Horrible is on the Netflix queue and suddenly we were in love again.."
Yeah, about that. You've pretty much guaranteed that someone you love will die horribly in the most emotionally sadistic way imaginable. Sorry, that's just how it works in the Whedon-verse.
posted by stet at 2:39 PM on October 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
Yeah, about that. You've pretty much guaranteed that someone you love will die horribly in the most emotionally sadistic way imaginable. Sorry, that's just how it works in the Whedon-verse.
posted by stet at 2:39 PM on October 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
"You [Joss] do kill a lot of chicks." - Neil Patrick Harris
"Let's leave my personal life out of this." - Joss
posted by maryr at 3:01 PM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
"Let's leave my personal life out of this." - Joss
posted by maryr at 3:01 PM on October 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
wait, what? this is a real thing that is really happening and not just a somewhat confusing fandom joke?
i just.
lol
posted by elizardbits at 3:40 PM on October 24, 2011
i just.
lol
posted by elizardbits at 3:40 PM on October 24, 2011
Entertainment Weekly piece, interviewing Whedon, Maher and Acker. It mentions that Anthony Head was going to participate but had a scheduling conflict.
posted by williampratt at 6:11 PM on October 24, 2011
posted by williampratt at 6:11 PM on October 24, 2011
I was just coming here to link that. Man, having ASH would have been awesome, but Clark Gregg is great too. Looks like the setting is at least contemporary-ish. I don't know enough about suit and dress styles to say anything more definite.
Also, man Kai Cole is a badass.
posted by kmz at 6:22 PM on October 24, 2011
Also, man Kai Cole is a badass.
posted by kmz at 6:22 PM on October 24, 2011
I also desperately want to be on the Whedon list. Except I'm not pretty and can't act. Dammit.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:41 PM on October 24, 2011
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:41 PM on October 24, 2011
The episode of Dollhouse where she had to doll up as some kind of well to do British lady... i still have nightmares.
posted by los_aburridos
Seriously? Any flaws in her acting are so unnoticeable when Eliza Dushku is around that it's a wonder we're even talking about this! When Dichen went into another character it seemed at least like another person, with Eliza it was like no one told her the plot of the show was that she was supposed to be other people. Echo, the girl of a thousand faces, all of them Faith.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:52 PM on October 24, 2011
posted by los_aburridos
Seriously? Any flaws in her acting are so unnoticeable when Eliza Dushku is around that it's a wonder we're even talking about this! When Dichen went into another character it seemed at least like another person, with Eliza it was like no one told her the plot of the show was that she was supposed to be other people. Echo, the girl of a thousand faces, all of them Faith.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:52 PM on October 24, 2011
man can that guy do musicals
There will reportedly be songs.
posted by williampratt at 5:04 AM on October 25, 2011
There will reportedly be songs.
posted by williampratt at 5:04 AM on October 25, 2011
There will reportedly be songs.
There are always songs in Much Ado. It's part of the script. Branagh also had songs in his film.
posted by hippybear at 4:10 PM on October 27, 2011
There are always songs in Much Ado. It's part of the script. Branagh also had songs in his film.
posted by hippybear at 4:10 PM on October 27, 2011
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posted by xingcat at 10:43 AM on October 24, 2011 [10 favorites]