A trailer for Joss Whedon’s awe-inspiring adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing has premiered online, and let’s just say it makes quite a splash.
Joss Whedon’s adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing has been approaching its theatrical release with stately (though somewhat impish) dignity, and a major step forward was taken today with the release of the film’s first theatrical trailer. Check out the trailer in all of its glamor, humor, and pathos right here:
Apart from the intrinsic glee inspired by the idea of Joss Whedon taking on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, it’s especially exhilarating to finally get a glimpse of so many familiar actors inhabiting such classic roles. Even through the quick cuts, it’s easy to see the chemistry percolating between Amy Acker’s Beatrice and Alexis Denisoff’s Benedick. The proliferation of secondary characters is thrilling as well – Reed Diamond as Don Pedro and Clark Gregg’s Leonato stand out particularly in the trailer – and the quick glimpses caught of other roles (notably Nathan Fillion’s too-perfect-for-words turn as Dogberry) only offers more excitement for the completed Much Ado About Nothing.
The trailer also offers our first taste of the tone of a Much Ado About Nothing as imagined by Joss Whedon. Though the atmosphere is blithe and party-like, there are distinctly moody undertones which should serve the love story well. The black-and-white cinematography (dotted with brief inclusions of color) is an intriguing stylistic choice. Much Ado About Nothing boasts a wide emotional palate, and this distinct visual style provides a fascinating canvas for the material, which paces briskly across the span between comic and tragic in a manner so distinct to Shakespeare – and to Whedon.
Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing was filmed on the sly in 2011, over the course of twelve days. The film debuted to standing ovations at last year’s Toronto Film Festival, where it was sold for distribution to Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. The film will be released in American theaters on June 7.