In today's world of technology, where if a famous person dies, wins an award or just crosses the street wearing sweats, we know about it almost instantly. So, how can a person, who is very well known in the Entertainment industry, can direct, adapt, cast, film and wrap an entire movie without anyone knowing? Well, one person can now claim that and that person is Joss Whedon. And its not just some small budget, no one knows anything about the subject or anything like that. Nope. Joss Whedon has filmed a version of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" without a single person blabbing it to any sort of media outlet.
According to TheWrap, Whedon, who recently just wrote and directed the movie "The Avengers", kept this project close to the chest. On Sunday night, a website had appeared announcing that Whedon's film had completed principle photography. A few days ago, Yahoo! also reported that two people close to the project has confirmed that Whedon "had indeed filmed a secret movie, and only announced it on Sunday night."
So far there are some familiar faces that have cast in the film. Sean Maher, from "Firefly", Frank Kranz, from "The Cabin in the Woods", "Catle" and "Firefly" lead Nathan Fillion and "Angel" stars Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker. Newcomers include Treat Clark and Jillian Morgese, however I'm sure they will be good enough to join in on other future Whedon projects. Some of the actors went to Twitter Sunday night saying they just wrapped filming, same day the website announced the film, coincidence that they released on the same day? I think not my friends.
If you know nothing about this play… well then the nothing in the title definitely alludes to you. I'm just kidding! So, in a small short summary, you could also Wikipedia the play and read the synopsis, the play is a comedy about two sets of lovers. Benedick and Beatrice banter cynically while the sweet young Claudio and Hero are so in love they can barely talk in the play. Benedick and Beatrice get tricked into proclaiming their love for each other while Claudio is fooled into rejecting Hero at the altar. In the end, of course since this is a comedy of Shakespeare, there's a happy ending. The independent film doesn't have a distributor yet but I'm sure since its Joss Whedon we're talking about, it's not going to be long before some company picks it up. I, for one, can't wait for this to comes out.
How Whedon puts a twist on this.. well we have to wait and see. With some of my favorite actors from the various worlds of Joss Whedon, all we can do is wait in anticipation and wonder… How in the world did he manage to film and wrap a movie in secret. Well below answers that question.. it took only 12 days to film! That and the last line before the list of players is funny.
You can go here to check out the film's website. If you click on the middle image , downloaded is a litlle letter which is included here for your enjoyment. Besides that, nothing but the image I've included. I shall keep you posted when more is released. While we wait in anticipation for this film, his film Avengers is to be released May 4, 2012 everywhere, which means I'll be going to see it in Boston. Will you?
Letter from the Website:
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.
www.muchadothemovie.com muchadothemovie@gmail.com
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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