Michael Fassbender will star in a forthcoming screen production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Screen Daily have reported. The new version of the Shakespearian classic will be produced by SeeSaw, the producers of The King’s Speech and Shame. Justin Kurzel, the director of Snowtown, is also said to be on board to direct the movie, which is expected to begin shooting later this year, with the script being handed by Jacob Koskoff and Todd Louiso.

The script for the new adaptation is described as “one of the most in-demand ahead of the Cannes Film Festival, with a number of sales outfits keen to work on the film.” Film4 are backing the movie, which is a UK-Australian co-production. As or the all-important part of Lady Macbeth, Screen Daily report that the film’s producers are in talks with “at least one Hollywood leading actress.” Fassbender will be reunited with Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, with whom he worked on Hunger, Shame and the forthcoming movie Frank.

According to the report, the new script will take a “visceral approach to the story” and will include “significant battle scenes. Taking on the role of Macbeth can be the making of an actor – though of course Fassbender is already a well-respected actor. Macbeth, of course can also be an actor’s downfall. It will be interesting to see which side of the coin Fassbender fall on. 

Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender: lined up to play Macbeth