Gerard Butler Joins Coriolanus The Scot gets Shakespearean with Fiennes Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Ah, Coriolanus. That Shakespeare play about...Romans, isn't it? Something to do with wars and elections? But fear not if your lack of knowledge rivals ours, because Ralph Fiennes is directing a film version, and Gerard Butler has just joined the cast.
The one that the Reduced Shakespeare Company don't bother trying to summarise (except through interpretive dance involving a small clockwork dinosaur) in fact follows a Roman general called Gaius Martius (Fiennes himself) who leads his city's armies to war against the Volsicans (from Southern Italy), some of Rome's most dangerous enemies in its early days. The leader of the Volsicans is Tullus Aufidius, who Butler is set to play, who considers Gaius a blood enemy and engages him in single combat. And that's all only in the first half.
The play also stars Vanessa Redgrave in the crucial role of Volumnia, who persuades her son to run for Consul of Rome and later has to persuade him from turning against the city. William Hurt, Eddie Marsan and Jessica Chastain round out the cast of what we're told will be a contemporary version of the story.
There's no release date for this one yet, which begins shooting in Serbia in March. We assume that Butler will spend the meantime boning up on his Bard but also shaping up those abs, since it is our understanding that any time he tackles classical history, he has to take his clothes off. That's right, isn't it?
Reduced Shakespeare did Troilus & Cressida with the squeaky mechanical Godzilla, but famously never actually did 'Coriolanus' because they 'didn't like the anus part'... ... Read More
Having starred in a theatrical version of this I can assure you that if done right this is quite an exceptiobnally rivettting Shakespearean Play the first half is an epic battle, the second half political intrigue which crosses elements of State of Play and The Manchurian candidate (Mother Control) also be interested to see who they are casting for General Commidius as he's quite an awe some powerhouse character... ... Read More
Modern version of the Bard, unless directed by Kenneth Branagh, are pretty disastrous (i'm sorry for Romeo and Juliet is a 'no'...) but then Ralph Fiennes?? This is quite interesting. As for gerry getting his kit off...what else is he gonna do? Act? ... Read More
So the Butler's at it again. Back in time at war and perhaps shouting out the Bard words instead of speaking them?! But this is intresting, very intresting and I'm quite looking forward to this. Oh Empire, is it true that he might get his clothes off?! Book me that ticket when it comes out, I'll be there! ... Read More
Hmm, we know that Butler can do ancient heroes in his sleep (THIS..IS...SPARTA!), but can he master the poetry of the Bard and Iambic Pentameter? Plus, is Fiennes a good director? Will sparks fly when Fiennes and Butler meet or will it be a damp squib? We shall see. ... Read More
