Cynthia Erivo has confirmed her first big-screen role after playing the iconic Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp, as she has been cast in a film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello. 

The feature will shoot in Doha, Qatar, and is set to be a film adaptation of the 2016 New York Theatre Workshop production directed by Sam Gold. The production was known for having “reimagined the events of the play as taking place amid war in the Middle East.” In the film, Erivio will portray Emilia, the wife of the villain, Iago. Erivio will be joined by David Oyelowo as Othello and Rachel Brosnahan as Desdemona, with both actors reprising their roles from the 2016 stage production. 

Barbara Broccoli, known for her work on the James Bond franchise, is set to reprise her own role of producer in this cinematic adaptation. Broccoli shared her excitement about the film in a statement, commenting, 

I’ve wanted to produce the cinematic adaptation of Othello since we staged the production in New York in 2016 

Oyelowo, who is also set to direct this feature adaptation, expressed his own joy over the casting news, stating, 

Our cinematic version of Othello is bitingly modern and fearlessly ambitious. To have a real shot at that, you need fearless actors. Cynthia is not only a generational talent but a dear friend with whom I am always keen to collaborate, and Rachel was a dream to play opposite in our original stage production and has been an inspiring pillar to build around for our fresh take on this legendary tale. 

Production is set to begin in Qatar in Autumn 2026.