Hailee Steinfeld, the recent Oscar nominee for the Coen brothers‘ True Grit, is in talks to star in an upcoming adaptation of William Shakespeare‘s Romeo and Juliet. Carlo Carlie (The Flight of the Innocent, Fluke) will direct and Julian Fellowes, who won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Gosford Park, will pen the script. Serving as producers are Gabriele Muccino, who directed Seven Pounds, Ileen Maisel, and Mark Ordesky. [The Hollywood Reporter]
With a reported $15 million budget, the project is scheduled to begin shooting in Italy later this spring. One of the intriguing things about this adaptation, aside from providing Steinfeld, 14, a chance to flex different elements of her repertoire, is the fact the filmmakers are remaining loyal to the character’s age in Shakespeare‘s play. Other adaptations of the classic, including Baz Luhrmann‘s 1996 film, resorted to casting older actresses.
We’ll certainly keep our eyes peeled for further casting information. In the meantime, who would you like to see play Romeo?