Naomi Watts Joins and Anthony Hopkins Confirmed for “King Lear”

Adding to the already big star cast of the Shakespeare’s tragedy  King Lear new film adaptation, The Guardian report that Naomi Watts (King Kong, The Ring Two, Eastern Promises)  joined the cast of Joshua Michael Stern’s and will play the third sister alongside the previously announced Keira Knightley and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Anthony Hopkins has been confirmed to play the title role in a new movie version of Shakespeare’s King Lear. The actor is said to be “thrilled” to be starring in the film, which was announced at Cannes last month. He first played the role in a stage production at the National Theatre in 1987.

Stern announced that more big names would be revealed soon, stating, “The one thing that I’m staying away from is stunt casting. There won’t be the American comedian, but there will be some really great actors playing smaller roles that will make a lot of sense.”

He added that he intends to stay as faithful as possible to the original play as he is “not very fond of the modern adaptations”.
The $35 million film, which will feature “epic battle sequences”, tells the story of Lear’s decision to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters depending on how well they praise him.

Shooting is said to begin in Britain or Ireland in early 2009.

Anthony Hopkins, Keira Knightley and Gwyneth Paltrow star in $35m ‘King Lear’

Anthony Hopkins, Keira Knightley and Gwyneth Paltrow will headline a $35m adaptation of Shakespeare’s epic tragedy King Lear.

Joshua Michael Stern, who made the upcoming Kevin Costner political comedy Swing Vote, which screens in the market here, adapted the screenplay and will direct and produce.

It is understood Paltrow will play Regan, one of Lear’s two treacherous eldest daughters who fight for the lion’s share of their father’s kingdom when he announces his abdication.

Knightley will play Cordelia, Lear’s youngest and most loyal daughter who is disowned by the king after she refuses to take part in a contest to demonstrate who loves their father the most.

Cordelia flees and marries the King of France before returning with an army to wage war against her sisters, an act that triggers the cataclysmic final sequence of events.

The producers expect to announce further casting, including the eldest daughter Goneril as well as various scheming members of the aristocracy.

Ruby Films chief Alison Owen is in talks to produce and her colleague Paul Trijbits is in talk to serve as executive producer.

Stern’s vision for the updated, live-action project is described as being epic in the vein of 300, featuring epic battle sequences and high passion.