Logan To Adapt Shakespeare For Stewart

Star Trek: Nemesis screenwriter John Logan - who was nominated for Academy Awards for Gladiator and The Aviator - will adapt The Merchant of Venice for the screen for Patrick Stewart (Picard).

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Stewart will play Shylock in an updated version of Shakespeare's play, which will be directed by Michael Almereyda. The Daily Telegraph previously reported that Stewart's X-Men co-star Ian McKellen would play Antonio.

Logan, whom the Sun-Times describes as "long part of the Victory Gardens Theater's stable of playwrights", is reinventing Shylock as a casino boss. His adversary Portia, now the daughter of a high-roller, will be played by Julia Stiles. Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg will co-produce the film.

As previously reported, Stewart is interested in exploring the homosexual subtext between the characters of Antonio and Bassanio. He said he hoped to make use of the Las Vegas gay scene for that.

The original news item is at The Chicago Sun-Times. The New York Daily News has the story as well.

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