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Kodi Smit-McPhee to Join Hailee Steinfeld in New 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Ethan Anderton
June 7, 2011
Source: Variety
Though I would have liked to see the young actor take the titular lead male role, Let Me In star Kodi Smit-McPhee is taking a smaller role in the new adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet from director Carlo Carlei. Variety reports the 14-year old actor will take the role of Benvolio, cousin of Juliet's suitor, who unsuccessfully tries to keep peace between Tybalt, nephew of Lady Capulet and cousin of Romeo's star-crossed lover, and Mercutio (yet to be cast), a close friend of our male protagonist. Though the cast is still filling out and Romeo has yet to be revealed, production starts this summer.
As we last heard, Ed Westick ("Gossip Girl") is taking the role of Tybalt with Hailee Steinfeld playing the Capulet daughter Juliet. Meanwhile Holly Hunter is playing Juliet's nurse and the rest of the roles are still waiting to be filled. With a talented young cast taking the major roles and working from a script by Gosford Park writer Julian Fellowes, this should be a great adaptation of the classic play. Spouting off Shakespearean verse is a challenge for any actor, let alone young teenage actors like Steinfeld and Smit-McPhee. But considering both turned in great performances in True Grit and Let Me In respectively, I'm betting they've got the chops to pull it off. Now we just need a Romeo. Any suggestions?
7 Comments
1
Phew, I don't like this kid. Thought he was Romeo for a second there. I think this is actually going to be a great adaptation. I like how they skewing younger. It's more faithful to the story. Although it'l be interesting to see who they cast as Malvolio
Moviekidmike on Jun 8, 2011
2
Malvolio is from a different Shakespeare play--Twelfth Night. Just FYI.
tkroo on Jun 8, 2011
3
They probably meant Mercutio.
Rachelwolfrun1 on Jun 11, 2011
4
this kid looks about 7 what's that about? obviously it pays to have really good make-up artists
Jaychev on Jun 8, 2011
5
good casting so far.
happy camper on Jun 8, 2011
6
This picture looks old... he looks his age ( I think 17) now
Missyb123 on Jun 9, 2011
7
He's 14, and so is the girl playing Juliet.
Rachelwolfrun1 on Jun 11, 2011
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