Joel Coen’s ‘Macbeth’ Adaptation, Starring Denzel Washington, Put On Hold Due To COVID-19

The Cohen Brothers are feeling the effects of the recent COVID-19 as their upcoming production Macbeth was recently put on hiatus due to safety concerns according to Deadline.

The latest adaptation of William Shakespeare’s timeless play is to be directed by Joel Coen and was set to begin shooting in Los Angeles. The film stars Denzel Washington as the titular Macbeth, alongside Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth. The supporting cast would include Brendan Gleeson as Duncan, Corey Hawkins as Macduff, and Harry Melling as Malcolm. Macbeth will also mark the ninth time Joel Coen and his wife McDormand have collaborated with each other. Scott Rudin will also be reuniting with Coen again and will serve as the film’s producer. Rudin earned an Academy Award for Best Picture for his work with Coen for No Country for Old Men.

Washington is quite familiar with Shakespearian projects like Macbeth, as the actor has starred in many stage performances outside of Hollywood. Washington portrayed the titular character in the 1990 NYC Shakespeare in the Park stage production of Richard III and portrayed Brutas in the 2005 Broadway show of Julius Caesar. Off the Broadway stage, Washington also starred in another Shakespeare production, portraying Don Pedro in Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.