6 modern-day Shakespeare adaptations to watch on OTT before Anyone One But You

Anyone But You, starring Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell and Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney released in theatres last week. The romantic comedy has been lauded for the great chemistry between the lead stars and the film’s irreverent humour. For the unversed, the film is a modernised reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. For today’s List Hai Toh Hit Hai podcast, we will go through six modern-day versions of Shakespeare’s iconic tales.

My Own Private Idaho - Amazon Prime rental

The 1991 My Own Private Idaho stars Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix in lead roles. They play two young men, Mike and Scott, who embark on a road trip – Mike in search of his biological mother and Scott on a journey of self-discovery. The film is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, and is written and directed by Gus Van Sant, who received significant praise for helming the film’s gripping narrative. Both lead stars received significant praise for their portrayal of complex characters, despite Phoenix and Reeves being in the relative infancy of their careers in their 20s.

West Side Story (2021) - Disney+ Hotstar

The 2021 Steven Speilberg film West Side Story is a remake of the 1961 film of the same name. Inspired by Shakespeare’s stories Romeo and Juliet, both films are direct adaptations of the 1957 stage musical. Speilberg has added his own spin to the musical film and it features a stellar cast of Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, and David Alvarez in lead roles. The film garnered significant praise, with Ariana DeBose winning Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards.

Warm Bodies - Prime Video

The next film on this list is the 2013 horror comedy film Warm Bodies. Set in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies, the plot of the film follows a zombie named R who saves a human named Julie from other zombies. R inexplicably begins to develop feelings for Julie, but their obvious differences threaten to pull them apart. The film is yet another reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The Jonathan Levine directorial stars Nichols Hoult as R and Teresa Palmer as Julie. It remains a cult favourite horror comedy.

She’s the Man - Prime Video\

She’s the Man is a 2006 rom-com that stars Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum in lead roles. The film is helmed by Andy Fickman and it revolves around high school student Viola, who decides to disguise herself as her twin brother in order to play for the high school football team. The film is a modern-day retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The film's quirky comedy and endearing characters make it a compelling watch.

10 Things I Hate About You - Disney+ Hotstar

Long before the late Heath Ledger stepped into the Oscar-winning role of the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Ledger starred in a popular rom-com. Titled 10 Things I Hate About You, Ledger plays the role of Patrick, who is hired by Cameron, a high school student, to charm Kat, the older sister of the girl he wishes to date. Cameron is convinced that the antisocial Kat will not approve of her sister dating Cameron unless Kat has a boyfriend of her own. This classic rom-com is loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and is directed by Gil Junger. Julia Stiles plays the role of Kat, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Cameron.

Romeo + Juliet - YouTube rental

The final film on this list is yet another Romeo and Juliet adaptation, and it stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as Romeo and Juliet. The classic Shakespeare story is set in modern-day Verona and tells the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, who belong to the opposing sides of two warring families. It is helmed by Elvis director, Baz Luhrmann, and it features pulsating gunslinging action and engrossing drama. The film garnered praise for its stunning visuals and performance by its lead stars.

Well that's all we got for this episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

Written by Ryan Gomez