Joss Whedon does Shakespeare

Bellweather Pictures has announced the completion of principal photography for Much Ado About Nothing.

The previously unannounced – and apparently well-kept secret – film is based on the Shakespeare play of the same name.

Before the above-mentioned announcement, no one had even heard of BellWeather (founded by famed genre script-writer Joss Whedon and Kai Cole), as this is the first production for the studio which apparently focuses on small, low-budget productions.

Whedon produced the movie – it needed no writer, of course – with M. Elizabeth Hughes.

The list of cast is impressive, and will be sure to draw in some genre film fans for this classic tale.

Check out the star studded list in the synopsis:

Shot in glorious black and white by Jay Hunter (PAPER HEART, “Dollhouse”), the film stars Amy Acker (CABIN IN THE WOODS, “Alias”) and Alexis Denisof (“How I Met Your Mother,” “Angel”) as Beatrice and Benedick, the world’s least likely lovers headed for their inevitable tumble into love.

 As Joss Whedon puts it: “The text is to me a deconstruction of the idea of love, which is ironic, since the entire production is a love letter – to the text, to the cast, even to the house it’s shot in.” 

The supporting cast includes Nathan Fillion (“Castle,” WAITRESS) as Dogberry, Clark Gregg (AVENGERS, IRON MAN) as Leonato, Fran Kranz (CABIN IN THE WOODS, “Dollhouse”) as Claudio and Reed Diamond (“Franklin & Bash,” MONEYBALL) as Don Pedro.  

Much Ado About Nothing was shot in just 12 days in secret at a house in Santa Monica. This announcement indicates filming is complete, and the movie is already moving on to post-production.

According the the press release, the actors were “dedicated to the idea that this story bears retelling, that this dialogue is as fresh and intoxicating as any being written, and that the joy of working on a passion project surrounded by dear friends, admired colleagues and an atmosphere of unabashed rapture far outweighs their hilariously miniature paychecks.”

No dates have yet been announced, but I would expect a limited theatrical release at first, if any, despite the list of stars.