In a vibrant reinvention of Shakespeare’s iconic play, Juliet & Romeo is set to bring new life to the centuries-old tale with a fresh, pop musical twist. Yahoo UK has been granted an exclusive first look at the trailer for this highly anticipated movie-musical, which features an all-star cast led by Jason Isaacs and Rebel Wilson. The two actors portray the patriarch and matriarch of the rival Montague and Capulet families, respectively, in this modernized take on the tragic love story.
Clara Rugaard and Jamie Ward step into the title roles as the star-crossed lovers, with the trailer showcasing their first meeting and the blossoming of their romance. Like the original play, Juliet & Romeo explores the tension between love and family loyalty, as the lovers’ relationship faces fierce opposition from their families, who forbid them to be together due to the long-standing rivalry between the Montagues and Capulets.
The film features a dynamic soundtrack that blends original pop music with the classic story, using song to express the characters’ inner turmoil as they grapple with the intensity of their feelings for each other while navigating the disapproval of their families. Isaacs, portraying Lord Montague, is determined to keep Romeo from pursuing Juliet, while Wilson’s Lady Capulet quickly realizes the transformative power of Juliet’s newfound love and the secret she must keep from her family.
The cast is rounded out by a host of Shakespearean veterans, including Derek Jacobi, Rupert Everett, Rupert Graves, and Dan Fogler, bringing added depth to the production.
Directed and written by Timothy Scott Bogart, Juliet & Romeo is the first installment in a planned movie-musical trilogy. The series will delve into the real-life events from 1301 that inspired Shakespeare’s play, following the lovers through an epic saga filled with battles, betrayals, and a mission to alter the course of history.
Bogart has emphasized that this version of Romeo and Juliet is distinct for its use of contemporary pop music to convey the emotions of the characters, explaining, “Romeo & Juliet is one of the most romantic stories ever told. The challenge for any storyteller is to find a different colour that they can add… To me, what Shakespeare did was express the poetry of his time, and in searching for the poetry of our time, we turn to music.”
Wilson’s casting as Lady Capulet is particularly praised by the director, who lauds her ability to bring a fresh perspective to the mother-daughter dynamic. “Rebel’s extraordinary portrayal—whose own complex experience of motherhood profoundly shapes the lives of history’s most legendary lovers—just elevated everything!” said Bogart.
Juliet & Romeo will be released for a special one-night-only event on June 11th, offering audiences a chance to experience this innovative, pop-infused reimagining of one of the greatest love stories ever told.
