Feb 3, 2009–Al Pacino will play the title role in “King Lear,” an adaptation of Shakespeare's play to be directed by Michael Radford.
Radford, who wrote the script, is making his second Shakespearean film with Pacino after 2004's “Merchant of Venice,” in which Pacino played Shylock.
The film will be produced by Barry Navidi, who teamed with Pacino on “Merchant” as well as “Salomaybe,” which Pacino directed and stars in. That film, based on the Oscar Wilde play, is in post-production.
While Pacino has played many Shakespearean characters, he has never played King Lear. “King Lear” has been filmed before with Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles and Paul Scofield.
Radford will shoot the picture entirely in Europe later this year.
