Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing adaption gets release date

Joss Whedon’s adaptation of the Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing is to be released jointly by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions and will get an American cinema release date of 7 June 2013.

Whedon, the director of Avengers and Cabin in the Woods, will bring Shakespeare’s comedy into the modern day, though it will be shot with the original text of the play. The film stars Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Sean Maher, Clark Gregg and Reed Diamond.

Although the film has been in development for years, Whedon shot the black-and-white film in just 12 days at his Santa Monica home in California, and produced the film with his wife, Kai Cole, through their Bellwether Pictures.

The official synopsis of the film reads: “Claudio (Fran Kranz) and Benedick (Alexis Denisof ) have just returned home to Messina after a successful campaign abroad. When earnest Claudio announces his adoration for the lovely Hero (Jillian Morgese), daughter of Messina’s governor Leonato (Clark Gregg), the acid-tongued Benedick teases him mercilessly. Benedick’s scorn for love is matched by that of his long-time nemesis and verbal sparring partner Beatrice (Amy Acker), Leonato’s niece. As the lovestruck Claudio and Hero make plans to marry, Benedick and Beatrice resume the “merry war” of insults they have long waged. Yet there are many who believe that for all their antagonism – or even because of it – this pair of incessantly sniping cynics is surely meant to be a couple. As matchmaking schemes are put into play and disguises are donned, loathing and love soon prove to be close cousins.”