ROMEO AND JULIET INTERVIEWS (Videos) – The young stars of Romeo and Juliet sat down with ScreenSlam to discuss their first kiss together, their favorite scenes, and their approach in portraying the characters. We also spoke with Julian Fellowes, who adapted the screenplay, on his approach to the story and how it’s molded for the younger generation. Directed by Carlo Carlei, the Shakespearean tragedy stars Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld as the iconic lovers who are caught in a whirlwind of disaster from the moment their lips meet. Romeo and Juliet also stars Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ed Westwick, Lesley Manville, Christian Cooke, Stellan Skarsgard, Tom Wisdom, and Natascha McElhone.
“We had great chemistry as actors, and we became really good friends, so we were really considerate of each other.” – Hailee Steinfeld
“I wouldn’t say any of the [previous adaptations] lacked anything. I think it’s just about kind of bringing a new, slight take on it. We set it in the real place, in the real time…we tried to have the romanticism of the Zeffirelli’ movie and brought some of the energy from the Baz Luhrmann film…” – Douglas Booth
“In a broader sense, I hope [the younger generation] feel not alone in going through what most of them are going through, which is being in love with someone…and the fact is this is a part of your life that we all have to go through, and this story tells them that. But my other goal is that if they enjoy this and it makes them curious about the original play…then we’ve sort of got them over that bridge, so that they don’t see Shakespeare as some kind of school thing that you never look at again, then I’d be very thrilled by that. I hope that happens.” – Julian Fellowes
PLOT: Romeo and Juliet are “star crossed lovers”. When two enemy families meet, forbidden love ensues. A William Shakespeare classic.
RELEASE DATES:
- US & UK – October 11, 2013
- New Zealand – February 14, 2014
Watch the interviews below:
ROMEO AND JULIET Interview - Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld