Ariana DeBose and Peter Dinklage Join ‘Lear Rex’ Cast

Ariana DeBose, Rachel Brosnahan, and Peter Dinklage are among the stars joining the cast of Lear Rex.

The trio will work alongside Al Pacino and Jessica Chastain in this new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” Additional cast members include LaKeith Stanfield, Chris Messina, Ted Levine, Danny Huston, Matthew Jacobs, Rhys Coiro, and Stephen Dorff.

The movie is written and directed by Bernard Rose, with Barry Navidi producing in his fifth collaboration with Al Pacino. Principal photography is scheduled to start later this month in Los Angeles.

Lear Rex centers on an aging King Lear (played by Pacino) who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters in an effort to prevent future conflicts.

In doing so, he spurns his loyal younger daughter and entrusts his malevolent older daughters, who eventually strip him of his power and abandon him in a terrifying and barren wasteland.

Rose expressed his excitement about the project, saying, “It is enormously exciting to get the opportunity to work with this extraordinary cast that Al, Barry and Sharon [Howard-Field, casting director] have put together to tackle this radical — but accessible — adaptation of Shakespeare’s greatest play.”

Navidi also shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Bernard Rose. His artistic vision, combined with a talented ensemble cast of players led by Al Pacino, promises to take us on a remarkable and unforgettable cinematic experience.”

He added, “We are merging the worlds of Shakespeare and Hollywood. This marks the commencement of an exciting new chapter, one that Al has poured his heart and soul into. It is a privilege for me to join forces with my dear friend once more, and to contribute to his enduring legacy.”