William Shakespeare would be 460 years old this Tuesday (23) if he were alive. The English author also died on April 23, his 52nd birthday.
His work has become one of the main literary references over the centuries and has been able to influence all fields of pop culture: from literature to cinema, from theater to music.
To celebrate Shakespeare's birthday, the CNN separated a list of five of the various films made based on his work, including adaptations and inspired productions.
See below:
“Lion King” (1994)
The Disney animation released in 1994 was based on “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, which tells the story of a prince who tries to avenge the death of his father, who was poisoned by his own brother. In the film, which won the Oscar for Best Original Song with “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” (Elton John and Tim Rice), Simba plays Hamlet and tries to avenge Mufasa's death by killing Scar.
“Everyone But You” (2023)
The title was inspired by the plot of “Much Ado About Nothing”, from 1598. The main aspect of the story that the film brings to life is the plot between the characters Benedick and Beatrice – although the two seem to dislike each other, constantly mocking and insulting each other, their dislike actually contains a much deeper feeling.
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” (2021)
Written and directed by Joel Coen, the film brings together Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand to bring to the cinema the story of Macbeth portrayed in the Shakespearean tragedy. In the play, the Englishman tells the story of Lord Macbeth, who was one of three fairies who will be the next king of England.
“Romeo + Juliet” (1996)
The story of the impossible love between Romeo and Juliet has been portrayed many times in cinema. Shakespeare's play is inspired by an old Italian tale and two teenagers who, prevented by their families from experiencing great love, kill themselves.
The 1996 film is directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo Montéquio and Claire Danes as Juliet Capulet.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1999)
The story of the mission received by Duke Theseus also ended up in theaters. The adaptation was directed by Michael Hoffman and featured a star cast, with names like Christian Bale and Michelle Pfeiffer. In Shakespeare's play, he needs to resolve the imbroglio surrounding the marriage of Hermia and Demetrius.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
