William Shakespeare’s The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part The First
Hardcover | Kindle Edition
Written by Ian Doescher
Illustrations by Nicolas Delort
Inspired by George Lucas, William Shakespeare
Quirk Books
Release Date: April 7, 2015
Cover Price: $14.95

This month, just in time for The Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California, comes another Shakespearean parody of the Jedi variety. William Shakespeare’s The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part The First by Ian Doescher (with some help from George Lucas and William Shakespeare) merges Part I of the Star Wars saga with the language of Shakespeare.

Obi-Wan: I have a bad feeling about this, Master.
Qui-Gon: Yet sense I nothing. Wherefore art thou tense?
Obi-Wan: ‘Tis not about the mission – something else.
Elusive ’tis, aye, difficult to name.

A Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet, Cinderella) and Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street, Casino) collaboration has been in the works for some time. If the collaboration were to happen, Scorsese would be bringing Branagh’s stage adaptation of William Shakespeare‘s MacBeth to the big screen. But given both filmmakers’ busy schedules, the film would not likely go into production for some time, at least not any time soon.

Now a new interview reveals that there is “some” progress being made, and the two are nearly closing the deal to get the film made. Hit the jump for more.

This July, Quirk Books will be releasing William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, which, as the title suggests, is a retelling of the first Star Wars film in the style of William Shakespeare. In honor of today being May The Fourth, a.k.a, Star Wars Day, the publisher organized a themed flashmob this morning on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

During the event in front of the highly populated famed museum (the “Rocky steps”), members of Urban Playground and the Drexel University’s Dragon Jedi performed three scenes from the book, using props such as placards for the opening credits (creatively used here), mock lightsabers, and an inflatable R2-D2, who of course, stole the show.

Check out the video here below, which includes the lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and his former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi!

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars will be released on July 2, 2013 in Hardcover and in ebook format for the Kindle.

Much Ado About Nothing

Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Sean Maher, Reed Diamond, Clark Gregg, Tom Lenk

After directing Marvel’s The Avengers, Joss Whedon could have made any movie he wanted – and that’s exactly what he did. Instead of diving head-first into another big-budget, special effects blockbuster, Whedon decided to shoot a black-and-white adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Shot in 12 days at Joss Whedon’s house, this film adaptation uses the original text while putting a contemporary spin on the classic story, making extensive use of actors from the Whedon universe.

Much Ado About Nothing stars Amy Acker (Angel) as Beatrice and Alexis Denisof (Dollhouse) as Benedick, sparring lovers caught in a dark, sexy, and sometimes absurd contest of love and romance. The film also stars Fran Kranz (Cabin in the Woods) as Count Claudio and newcomer Jillian Morgese as Hero, his would-be bride.

For those who had not yet heard, back when director Joss Whedon was making that little superhero flick The Avengers, he also made an even smaller movie with a bunch of his Whedonverse friends in only twelve days.

The movie is Much Ado About Nothing, an adaptation of the William Shakespeare classic set in modern times. Whedon made the movie through Bellwether Pictures, a micro-studio Whedon started with Kai Cole that’s dedicated to do-it-yourself style indie narratives for all forms of media.

Now this ultra low budget film has itself a release date to plan for. You can find out when you can see it and check out a full rundown of who’s in the movie and who they’re playing below now!