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.
