Much Ado About Something

Prepare to expect something brilliant: Joss Whedon has directed Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

One of writing’s best has taken on the master bard. Under a shroud of secrecy, Whedon got his favourite ensemble of stars together and shot Shakespeare’s classic comedy in secret, from his Santa Monica villa over a 12 day period. Well known for his love of Shakespeare and holding readings at his house, Whedon was apparently finally convinced by his wife to get his favourite ensemble of actors together and film the project that has been his personal passion for many years.

This is no flash in the pan Shakespeare re-hash, it’s no drama club’s "Yah, uh, what we’re going to do is set Macbeth on the ‘mean streets’ because that’ll really bring it to the ‘kids’.” Whedon’s vision of the play is, "a deconstruction of the idea of love, which is ironic, since the entire production is a love letter – to the text, to the cast, even to the house it's shot in." Much Ado About Nothing is the product of real passion for the text and years of Shakespearian obsession by Whedon; this film can only be a good thing, if not a great thing.

Produced seemingly off the cuff, without any distribution deals planned, Much Ado About Nothing premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to great acclaim and has immediately been snatched up by Lionsgate for distribution in cinemas for the rest of us to see. It seems Whedon was cleverly betting on the play’s automatic popularity, as well as his own reputation, to garner automatic interest, which it certainly has. It won’t be long before Much Ado About Nothing becomes yet another Whedon cult classic and, with any luck, make English lessons a bit more fun.

Now, if you’re not already a big a fan of Joss Whedon and William Shakespeare as I am then, well...Why the hell not?

Shakespeare: To be or not to be, nuff said.

Although senselessly abused by the drudgery of half a million rubbish English teachers and am-dram Hamlets, Shakespeare’s talent is simply breathtaking when performed well. There’s a reason why people still go mad for his work four hundred years after.

Joss Whedon, a little lesser known as Shakespeare I’ll admit, but still one of the most talented writers of our generation. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, Firefly, not the most publicised TV shows to date but each of them a massive game changer in US television. Whedon is acclaimed for masterfully manipulating genuinely creative worlds and infusing them with real human heart; creating powerful ensembles that can hold a story whether rampaging through high speed cowboy-space-ship train robberies (actually happens in Firefly) or just sat around the table eating dinner.  

Oh and there’s also just the little matter of writing and directing Marvel Avengers Assemble, no big deal though.

If anyone in the world can bring the heart, romance and hilarity of Shakespeare’s comedies back from the dead I can’t think of anybody better than Joss Whedon.