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Richard II of England: Potential for Damian? – Feb 2, 2018

Richard II or Bolingbroke: Potential Work Lined Up for Damian?

by Jake Coyle | SF Gate | February 2, 2018
by Dalya Alberge | The Guardian | August 12, 2017

L: Richard II of England – R: Damian Lewis

Veteran director James Ivory claims financiers think he’s crazy for attempting the Shakespeare adaptation of Richard II. Despite 50 years of critical acclaim and Oscar recognition, plus British actors Tom Hiddleston and Damian Lewis lined up to star in his production, financiers are refusing to part with their money. “They look at you like you’re crazy,” he said. “There is an assumption that there is no money to be made from such an investment. A Shakespeare film does not grab the hearts of financiers, I can tell you,” he says. “At the moment I’m very optimistic it will happen.”

For the past several years and after stalled efforts, Ivory still hopes to direct a film version of Shakespeare’s Richard II, with a script penned by Chris Terrio (“Argo,” ”Justice League”) and envisions feature roles for Tom Hiddleston as Richard II and Damian Lewis as Bolingbroke.  Not all that unheard of since according to Damian’s filmography, he voiced Bolingbroke on a Richard II radio broadcast. In fact, James Ivory proposes Damian for the role of Bolingbroke in this March, 2018 video.

Both actors have extensive experience of Shakespeare. Hiddleston, who starred in the BBC’s award-winning The Night Manager is playing Hamlet this month in a Branagh stage production. Lewis appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company before television dramas such as Homeland, Wolf Hall and Billions.

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