Joel Coen’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ Was Shot Entirely in Black & White

It’s been a while since anyone’s heard about Joel Coen’s Shakespeare adaptation The Tragedy of Macbeth, which stars Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. But now we’ve learned from an interview with long-time Coen Brothers’ costume designer Mary Zophres that the upcoming film was shot entirely in black and white. 

Zophres revealed the news on cinematographer Roger Deakins’ podcast, Team Deakins. She explained that her job was much easier with the new movie due to it being filmed in black and white. The last time she worked with black and white was on the Coen brothers’ 2001 crime drama The Man Who Wasn’t There. She said it was easier this time around because she was able to use her iPhone camera’s noir setting in order to figure out how the costumes would look without color. 

The Tragedy of Macbeth is Coen’s first project with Joel flying solo in the director’s seat. In an Interview with Collider, Coen composer Carter Burwell discussed what it was like for them to be working apart. 

“It’s a little different, even just the conversations I’ve had,” said Burwell. “Yeah, it’s a little different to have one of the brothers there. And I know Ethan, I saw him toward the end of last year and Joel was out prepping the shoot in LA. He said it felt strange that Joel is out there getting ready to make a movie. But Ethan didn’t want to do it. He wants to do other things. So it’s going to be a little bit different for all of us, I think it’s safe to say, but I think it’s still going to be a very recognizable voice that you’re familiar with, a look that you’re familiar with, I think. I think you’ll find that.”