‘Werwulf’ Director Robert Eggers Explains His Choice to Direct ‘Romeo & Juliet’

Avatar photoRobert Milaković
Romeo and juliet
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Robert Eggers has established a unique filmography in modern horror, consistently delving deeper into the past with each new project, from witch trials to Viking revenge tales to gothic vampire stories. His dedication to atmospheric and meticulously researched period storytelling has solidified his status as one of the genre’s most dependable auteurs, even as his themes become increasingly unconventional.

This trend is set to take an unexpected turn. After years immersed in supernatural horrors, Eggers is shifting his focus to one of literature’s most timeless tragedies for his next film, a decision that has surprised even his most devoted fans who are accustomed to his horror-centric approach.

Eggers is poised to direct and produce a new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for Focus Features, following a competitive bidding war that included A24, Sony, and Warner Bros. This project will mark Eggers’ first direct engagement with Shakespeare’s work, despite his 2022 film ‘The Northman’ drawing loosely from the same Nordic legend that inspired ‘Hamlet.’

The timing of this announcement coincides with Eggers completing work on ‘Werwulf,’ his upcoming 14th-century werewolf horror film featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Lily-Rose Depp. He has described this project as pushing him into particularly dark creative territory, making the transition to a classic tragedy of young love a refreshing tonal reset after being so deeply involved in monstrous folklore.

This shift seems logical, considering how draining Eggers has found the development process of ‘Werwulf,’ which he has previously labeled as the darkest material he has ever written. Turning next to Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, despite the inherent doom in the original text, signifies a true departure from the creature-focused horror that has characterized his work since ‘The Witch.’

‘Romeo and Juliet’ is set to be Eggers’ next film following the Christmas Day theatrical release of ‘Werwulf,’ according to The Hollywood Reporter. Staying true to his style, the director is not planning a modernized version akin to Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 adaptation. Sources suggest that the film will feature actors speaking in Elizabethan English, directly from Shakespeare’s original text.

This deal keeps Eggers firmly within the Focus Features family, a studio relationship that has lasted throughout his career. Focus has released or distributed all of his films, including ‘The Northman,’ ‘Nosferatu,’ and the upcoming ‘Werwulf,’ while also handling international distribution for his earlier works like ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse.’

This loyalty has proven beneficial for both parties, especially with ‘Nosferatu,’ which became Eggers’ highest-grossing film to date, amassing nearly $182 million worldwide and earning four Oscar nominations in craft categories. Given this box office and critical success, it’s no surprise that Focus fought hard to keep Eggers for his interpretation of Shakespeare’s most renowned romance.

Beyond ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ Eggers has several other projects reportedly still in development, including a previously announced ‘Labyrinth’ sequel for TriStar Pictures and the Jim Henson Company. However, with Shakespeare now confirmed as his next endeavor, those projects will likely take a backseat to one of literature’s most adapted stories receiving the unmistakably Eggers treatment.

Considering his track record of transforming familiar narratives into something unsettling and visually captivating, Eggers’ ‘Romeo and Juliet’ could ultimately look nothing like the myriad adaptations that have come before it.

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