LaKeith Stanfield and Ariana DeBose have joined the cast of Bernard Rose’s ‘Lear Rex,’ a cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear.’ They will star alongside leads Al Pacino and Jessica Chastain, who will portray King Lear and Goneril, respectively.
The plot of ‘Lear Rex’ follows an aging king who divides his kingdom among his three daughters to prevent future conflict. However, he disowns his youngest daughter, Cordelia (played by DeBose), who truly loves him, and instead trusts his malevolent older daughters, Goneril and Regan (played by Chastain and Brosnahan). This misguided decision leads him into a spiral of madness and despair. Stanfield will take on the role of Edmund.
The ensemble cast has expanded to include a plethora of acclaimed actors: Rachel Brosnahan, Peter Dinklage, Chris Messina, Ted Levine, Danny Huston, Matthew Jacobs, Rhys Coiro, and Stephen Dorff.
Peter Dinklage will take on the role of the Fool, Huston will portray Albany, Messina is cast as Cornwall, Levine as Kent, Jacobs as Gloucester, Coiro as Oswald, and Dorff will play Poor Tom.
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Principal photography for ‘Lear Rex’ is set to begin on August 12 in Los Angeles.
Producer Barry Navidi, marking his fifth collaboration with Pacino, will spearhead the project. Navidi’s previous works with Pacino include ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ ‘Wilde Salomé,’ ‘Salomé,’ and ‘Modi.’ Sharon Howard-Field, the film’s casting director, also brings her extensive experience from past collaborations with Navidi. The production is backed by finance partners Mattias Westman of Westman Films, Eco Entertainment, Dali Films, and World Vision. CAA Media Finance is handling the North American rights, while Goodfellas is managing international sales.
Director Bernard Rose expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “It is enormously exciting to get the opportunity to work with this extraordinary cast that Al, Barry, and Sharon have put together to tackle this radical, but accessible adaptation of Shakespeare’s greatest play.” Navidi echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the unique blend of Shakespearean drama and Hollywood talent, promising an unforgettable cinematic experience.
With shooting set to start soon, ‘Lear Rex’ is poised to be one of the most anticipated films of 2025. This ambitious adaptation, merging the timeless appeal of Shakespeare with a star-studded cast, is expected to captivate audiences and offer a fresh perspective on a classic tale.