THE TEMPEST Trailer Debuts

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with sleep.” And so with a release date of December 10th, how apropos that 2010 marks the 400th anniversary of the bard’s final play, with the date of the first performance of the comedy thought to be on November 1, 1611. Check out the trailer for THE TEMPEST courtesy of iTunes.

Conti, Strathairn, Hounsou, Cooper, Cumming and Mirren…what magic hath Taymor wrought! I really like what she’s apparently done with the film. Helen Mirren is no stranger to Shakespearean film adaptations, having starred in many for both film and television, but, thanks to Julie Taymor’s vision, this is the first time Mirren will play a lead character whose gender was changed from the original play, allowing her to define the classic role from a whole new perspective. Being a Shakespeare enthusiast, I can’t wait for this movie!

Synopsis:

In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s mystical thriller THE TEMPEST, Academy Award-nominated Julie Taymor (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, FRIDA, TITUS) brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar winner Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN). Prosper’s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.

From Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, THE TEMPEST will be in theaters on December 10, 2010.

Visit the film’s official site here, on Facebook here, and on Twitter here.