First Looks at Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in 'Macbeth'

The combination of Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard is already a powerful one, but combined with William Shakespeare's Macbeth and it's downright volcanic. The first images have arrived from Justin Kurzel's (Snowtown) adaptation of one of Shakespeare's most notable plays, and they show Fassbender as Macbeth and Cotillard in what promises to be a splashy role as Lady Macbeth.

Fassbender spoke to the Daily Mail about his approach to the character, and it's by connecting him to a modern day issue....

Fassbender: "He’s suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. It makes total sense, when you think about it. Justin set the seed of the idea in my head.

This trauma is something we know about. In World War I they called it battle fatigue, and it was probably more horrific in Macbeth’s days, when they were killing with their bare hands, and driving a blade through bodies.
'He’s having these hallucinations, and he needs to return to the violence to find some sort of clarity, or peace."

As for the murderous bond between Macbeth and his wife, Fassbender says that it's rooted in their fractured marriage, broken by the loss of a child...



Fassbender: "He’d been away fighting and when he returns, we see it’s a relationship that’s broken down. They lost a child, and there wasn’t time for them to grieve because he’s been away campaigning. Lady M is desperate for that reconnection, and briefly they do. And, of course, the doorway has been opened to darkness and to violence."

Filming on Macbeth is ongoing with no release date, but don't be surprised if Weinstein drops this in the thick of the Oscar race. How could they not?

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Marion Cotillard In, Natalie Portman Out for 'Macbeth' Opposite Michael Fassbender

A lot has changed in the couple of months since Natalie Portman was attached to play Lady Macbeth in an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. It was set to be another shot at working alongside Michael Fassbender, after the first attempt in Jane Got a Gun fell into disaster when he dropped out. But as it turns out, Portman's now planning her directorial debut A Tale of Love and Darkness, and this time it's her who is moving on, but it may just be for the better.


Deadline reports that Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard will now play the manipulative Lady Macbeth in the film, to be directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) and written by Todd Louiso (Hello I Must Be Going) and Jacob Koskoff. It would have been interesting to see how Portman tackled such an iconic character, but Cotillard is a more natural fit, and the scenes she'll share with Fassbender should absolutely smolder.

Expect a faithful adaptation with plenty of big, bloody battle scenes. Filming begins early next year and will probably hit just in time for next year's Oscar race.

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Natalie Portman is Lady Macbeth to Michael Fassbender's 'Macbeth'

Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman had a chance to work with one another before in the troubled Western, Jane Got a Gun, but it never came to pass. It was Fassbender's sudden departure that sent the film spiraling out of control, making headlines for a week. But the headaches he helped start don't seem to have phased Portman much, because she's agreed to join him in an adaptation of Macbeth.

Just a day after Fassbender was announced for the lead role, Portman has come aboard to play his Lady Macbeth. This version, written by Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff, will stick to the 11th century setting and maintain the original Shakespearean dialogue, but will also feature more blood and violence with significant battle scenes.

Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) is directing, and he's probably doing cartwheels over having the star power of Fassbender and Portman. Filming is slated to begin later this year. [Screen Daily]

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