Please answer the following questions in the comments box below. You can email the answers to me if you have trouble putting the comments in.
- If a new Macbeth film was being made, where and when should it be set? Justify your answer.
- Who would be the best choices to play the principle characters? Justify your answer.
- How is Macbeth – its characters, events and themes – still relevant in the 21st century? Justify your answer.
A creative and reflective thinker working at:
- Grade C will show your understanding of the play – its characters, events and themes – with the choices you make in setting and casting the new film.
- Grade B will make references to specific characters, events and/or themes in the play when justifying your setting and casting choices.
- Grade A will relate the play to contemporary (21st century) characters, events and/or themes, making the connections relevant and insightful.
English at Dartmouth Academy 
1) If a new Macbeth film was being made, i would set it in the original location of Scotland, as i think that it is important to stick to the fundamental elements of the play, however, i would change the time period to the 21st century, as this will appeal to this generation of young people, making it easier for them to relate to.
2) I would cast Mel Gibson as Macbeth, as he looks similar to previous portrails of Macbeth, (he has also proven that he can do a good Scottish accent).
3) I would say that the characters are still relevant in the 21st century because they present feelings and emotions that we are still capable of experiencing today. Some examples of this are; hatred, jealousy,love etc. The suicidal thoughts of Lady Macbeth can relate to modern day, as depression is still very common. The ruthlessness of Macbeth’s attitude towards becoming King of Scotland can still be seen in the ambition of many people today.
Thanks Lucy. Is it just the physical likeness that decided your choice to play Macbeth? Who would you have playing Lady Macbeth?
1) if there was a new Macbeth I would set it in Scotland because that is where it was set before and I think it would be authentic.
2)I think Russell crow should play Macbeth because he is very good at multi personality acting and I think Helena Bonham Carter should play Macbeth because she is good at playing different styled characters.
3) it is still relevant in the 21st century because it shows that other people can influence your mind and the power struggles of now.
Thanks Tally. Well done.
1.) If a new Macbeth film was being made I would set it in Scotland as that is where the play is set however I would set it in the 21st century as it would appeal to all ages and make it easier to understand when watching it, meaning that if you were having a hard time understanding the play then you could watch this film to get an understanding of the plot and characters.
2.) I would cast Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Macbeth because she can play seemingly “mad” characters very well and I think that she would do very well in the scenes where Lady Macbeth cannot cope with the crimes she has committed. I don’t know many male actors but when picking someone to play Macbeth I would look for someone who can show real emotion in his acting getting across Macbeth’s devious ambition and yet fearfulness at the same time.
3.) Macbeth is still relevant in the 21st century because human nature has not changed. There are still people today who would go to extreme lengths for power and it shows us the consequences. The play’s themes; guilt, paranoia, manipulation and power are all still present in today’s world gives us an idea of what happens when these things take control
1) If there was a new Macbeth film being made, like Tally and Lucy said, I would set it in Scotland as it originally was. I would also modernize it a bit so that it wouldn’t be as boring to the target audience.
2) I think that Billy Connolly could play Macbeth as he is originally Scottish too and is also a comedian so could portray humor in the film. I think that Helena Bonham Carter could play Lady Macbeth because the majority of the films she’s been in, she has played quite a nasty character, however in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ for example she was still quite a posh character.
3) It is still relevant to the 21st century because in Macbeth many of the characters are quite crafty in the way they trick people and how they control other characters. This also happens in everyday life in the 21st Century.The love, feelings and emotion that is shown in Macbeth is also relevant to the 21st Century.
Thanks to Chloe and Niamh for your comments too, girls. Helena Bonham Carter really is a popular choice for Lady Macbeth. (I think she’d be great too!)
1) To keep the play Macbeth as popular and famous as it is now it would need to include original Scottish heritage. The most effective way for this to be achieved would be filming in Scotland using Scottish architecture, people and scenery. Currently as a student studying the play i find it hard to follow, this could be changed by filming the play in a more modern era.
2) I would cast Colin Buchanan as Macbeth as he is already a well known actor and would be able to convey the appropriate Scottish characteristics needed for the actor Macbeth.
3) I think that Macbeth is still relevant in the 21st century as it makes people aware that other people and thoughts over power your judgement no matter what the circumstances are.
Thanks Sam. I had no idea who Colin Buchanan was until I googled him. Dalziel and Pascoe, right? An original choice but what is it about him that’d make him ideal for playing Macbeth (apart from his being Scottish)?
1) I think that the play should be set in Scotland and in more recent times as it is important to keep the original setting of the play, while keeping it in modern times so that people of this generation can relate and understand the play more.
2) I think that Leonardo DiCaprio would play Macbeth well as he has already acted in a film of one of Shakespears plays and I think that he would suit the character well.
3) Macbeth is still relevant in today’s times because the play itself is all about how things you do will affect you and others involved. It also shows that human nature hasn’t really changed much from those times, as people then and now can still have a very guilty conscience, which is shown by Macbeth and lady Macbeth.
1. I think that an interesting idea for a new version of Macbeth would be for it to be set during the era of the Italian Mafia. It would be set in Italy during the 1990’s, when the mafia control of the drugs trade was at its height. Instead of the characters fighting for the throne and trying to defend it, it could instead be revolving around drug-smuggling and Macbeth becoming the leader of the mafia and being in charge of the drugs business. It is common for criminals to go behind each others’ backs within the drugs business and for them to constantly be fighting to be the main man. This idea is relevant to Macbeth as the characters begin to turn on each other and it all ends badly.
2. Although it may seem like I’m type-casting the actor for Duncan, but I believe that Robert De Niro would suit this part perfectly. If my idea above was to be used, then he would suit it very well. De Niro is well-known for his part in The Godfather franchise, so it would only be expected for him to play such a powerful character as Duncan. I think that Leonardo DiCaprio would make a good Macbeth. He is well-known for playing heroic characters, but it would be an interesting departure from the more typical roles that he plays. I believe that he has the acting ability to portray Macbeth’s ruthlessness and apparent madness towards the end of the play. Following my idea for having DiCaprio as Macbeth, I believe that Angelina Jolie would make an amazing Lady Macbeth. She always plays heroic characters that are admired, so it would be interesting to see her play a character that is feared and that eventually turns mad due to the things she has done and seen.
3. The themes that are explored in the play are still relevant today, as somewhere in the world there is always a struggle for power. People go about it in ruthless ways to become number one, with such cruelty that they slowly destroy everything in their path. The paranoia and guilt felt by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are also relevant to today, as our human conscience tells us when we’ve done something wrong. We feel bad for our wrongdoings and try to cover them up, which can lead to the fear of being found out.
I LOVE the idea of remaking it as a mafia flick, Rosie. Brilliant casting choices too. Who cares if De Niro is being typecast (though I think he’s been in such a wide range of roles that, nowadays at least, I don’t think folk would think, ‘Oh, ANOTHER De Niro mafia film!’) You clearly ‘get’ the play’s themes too. Well done!
1) I think that if Macbeth was a film it should be set in Scotland because at was where is was based. Also it should be set in the modern day because it would appeal to kids our age and to use simpler language because then people my age would understand it more and it could help them with their English lessons when studding it.
2) For Macbeth I would cast Mel Gibson because he was in Braveheart and that aw based in Scotland and we studied it in history and he was powerful and could act well Macbeth going mad after killing Duncan.
3) Macbeth’s character is related to the 21st century because it shows that you can still go mad after killing someone in the modern day and lots if people now can kill people but they wouldn’t get away wit it as easily as Macbeth did.
Thanks Ellie. Would it be Mel Gibson as he is now (60-ish years old, I think) or a younger version of himself? I think he’d have been around 40 when he was in B’heart.
1. If a new Macbeth film was being made, I think it should be set in Plymouth in present times, as this would introduce many new twists to the story and would be significantly different from all the other remakes.
2. I think Helena Bonham Carter would play Lady Macbeth fantastically, as she can express her emotion and insanity well in her acting. I can’t think of many male actors but I think Leonardo DiCaprio would play Macbeth well because not only is he generally an exceptional actor but he’s already been in a film of one of Shakespeare’s plays so perhaps he’d understand his writing and intentions more. I think Robert Downey Jr. would play Banquo well just because I think he would suit the part because he’d understand the character. These are all extremely well known actors whom may not usually be seen in Plymouth but would definitely promote the film.
3. Macbeth is still relevant today as revenge, hatred and jealousy (which are some main themes in the story) are still very much valid in today’s society. Often people turn violent and perhaps insane to get something they desire when they get the chance, much like Lady Macbeth and Macbeth.
Thanks Suki. Plymouth’s an unusual but nonetheless interesting choice, though would it just be a location choice for filming or would it actually feature in the film? I can just imagine Macbeth and Banquo returning victorious after a bruising encounter on Union Street!
If there was a new version of Macbeth that were to be released, i think it would be best suited to be filmed and set in Scotland as it is where the original play was set and it should include old scottish architecture and locations which would have been used in the Shakesperian times when filming as it would show the roots of Macbeth and give the students a better understanding of where Macbeth was originaly set as some films can be confusing to where Macbeth was set. I also think that it should be represented as a modern version as the target audiece (students) would be more likley to be engaged with it as they can relate more to the story. The story itself i think should also be modern as students would understand it better and it should include both Shakesperian language and modern english as it would vary the language types the students would learn.
I think the actor for Macbeth should be Mr. Legowsi as the actor needs to be brave and dashing, but if Mr. Legowski is too busy with marking assesments and homeworks i think Leonardo De Caprio would be a well suited actor too as he has acted in a shakespere play before (as mentioned by Suki) of Romeo and Juliet and he would be more engaged with the storyline as he would be more interested in Shakesperes work, he would also be more engaging with the target audience as he is popular amongst students. Lady Macbeth should be played byHelena Bonham Carter as she over the past has been playing evil diabolical characters such as Belatrix from Harry Potter, and therefore she would be more experienced with playing the character of Lady Macbeth.
The themes in Macbeth still relatable to this day as still now betreyal, love and power can still effect people also guilt persusion and consiquences of doing something wrong is still relatable today as peoples nature have not changed and we still behave the way that we used to back then, people still go trough tge extreme to get power but still suffer the consiquences. People are still persuaded into doing stuff which could lead to betreyal etc.
Thanks Troy! You’ve obviously given some thought to the task, the play and its themes. Do remember that the target audience wouldn’t just be students – the film’s producers would want to make it appealing to a wider audience than that. (And I love the fact that Leonardo Di Caprio would only get the part if I couldn’t do it! Heh heh heh! Does he know his box-office appeal isn’t as great as mine?)
1) If there was a new version of macbeth i would set it in scotland because that is where macbeth was original set. I would set it in shakespeare’s time because i think would fit well.
2) I think the best actor would be david tennant because he can express himself very well i know this because i have seen his work as an actor and i think he would be a suitable actor for this new play. I can’t think of a perssion to play lady macbeth.
3) ???
1)first i would set Macbeth in Scotland like the other ones before it Macbeth should be d be based in modern times Macbeth is shown ans the mp and Duncan as the priminister who travels and comes to stay with Macbeth and lady Macbeth in Scotland lady Macbeth is a spy so he tells Macbeth every-way to kill Duncan
2) Macbeth should be played by:Benedict Cumberbatch
lady Macbeth should be played by:Rose Leslie
Duncan should be played by:Iain Glen
Banquo should be played by :Colin Firth
3) i think that he he 21st century as politics is in our news all the time now i would like too see this done actully to see what it would be like
1) I would like it to be filmed somewhere really gloomy but I don’t know any places apart from Dartmouth old mill but thats not the best.
2) the actor for macbeth should be jim carrey as he just the best at doing anything in acting but he can show his facial expressions really well and can express them in a way like no other.
3) ??
1.I think that if a new version of Macbeth was to be made it should be set in New York, in the 1990’s. I know this probably sounds a bit out there but if done well it could be good because it seems interesting, different, and the more modern feel could make it more relatable. (Although the 1990s is not the most modern obviously). I chose New York because the story is so crazy it could only be set in a city or place where things like this aren’t unusual. Also, like most places, there are ‘bad parts’ and in New York I’m sure this couldn’t be hard to picture.
2. As Macbeth I would cast Russell Brand because he seems like he could bring out the humor in some scenes but also get well into the darker scenes too. As Lady Macbeth I would cast Angelina Jolie, because I feel she is good at a variety of different characters and Lady Macbeth seems to have multiple sides to her personality.
3. I think Macbeth is still relevant to the 21st century because as we know, murder still happens, and the fact that both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth suffer from some form of guilt (and in extreme cases a mental illness) shows how modern it is as nowadays we are more aware of such diseases.
1) a new Macbeth film would be made I would make it more modern and understandable but still the true story. For example setting it in a small countryside village where everyone knows each other but they all have their conflicts.
2) I can’t think of a suitable character for Macbeth but I think he should be someone who is big and broad yet innocent and scared at heart. Lady Macbeth should be Helena Bonham Carter as she is very over the top and could be a very controlling and power hungry individual.
3) the stories, murders and relationships can and do take place in modern day. For example the want for certain thing (power) and also murder and guilt. We could still learn lessons from the play and see what the consequences of murder would be like. It’s always good to remember Shakespeare’s amazing work as well.
1. If a new Macbeth film was made I think it should be set modern day because else people wouldn’t be interested in watching it socially. However, I think it should keep elements of the olden day play, for example, the storyline. This was changed in the other modern day one which was based in a restaurant, this made it more confusing and less important when the owner of a restaurant died compared to a King.
2. I would choose Jennifer Lawrence to play Lady Macbeth because she is a great actress and has played a variety of characters, any role you give her she can take it on and deliver it to a high standard. She is also a popular actress recently and this would make people want to go and watch the film as she has many fans. I would choose Douglas Booth to play Macbeth because he has already played as Romeo in another Shakespeare play and he was able to make it old but with a modern day twist. He is also good at reading old English from his practice in ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
3. I think that it is relevant in the 21st century as there is still murders today and it shows that you can’t really trust anyone because even those closest to you can turn on you easily just to get revenge.
1) A new production of Macbeth I would say, would be better in a modern, 21st century setting. By ‘better’ I mean it could be made more relatable- language and possibly events. The bases of Macbeth could be set on a worldwide scale or on a small town scale (Myles’ example) – conflicts within countries or with other countries, street gangs against street gangs, houses against houses, families against families.
War(s) started by a murder- unity of countries/sides- one side prevails. A modern day Macbeth could be far more exciting in terms of action. The language could also be more understandable if set in a more recent time. Our version of English is a lot different to that of Shakespearian, half of the current population speak in abbreviations. Although watching an action film where the actors are constantly saying LOL, ILY, LMAO etc. wouldn’t be the most exciting. Example:
Actor: “Let’s shank Macbeth!” “Lol k”. Audience: *leaves*
2) As Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the main, main characters, I would put Andrew Lincoln (mostly known as Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead) for Macbeth and Angelina Jolie (mostly known as Lara Croft).
Rick Grimes is a very similar character to Macbeth in terms of fear, care, courage, love, power and leadership. Grimes also shares the sense of guilt and possible insanity of Macbeth. Although Rick Grimes becomes broken, (as does Macbeth), unlike Macbeth Grimes can overcome this and continuously change his state of mind. In order to do this, you would need a strong and clever actor- Andrew Lincoln can play sane to insane with ease. And so, would be best for Macbeth.
Angelina Jolie can play a strong, mature and powerful woman. Her role as Lara Croft shows she can play influential, wealthy, cunning, intelligent, manipulative (in a good way) and has a good sense of secrecy. Lady Macbeth is clever, able to control her emotions (at first) and secret. Another role Jolie has played is Maleficent, in the recent film- Maleficent. A character who is kind at first but becomes twisted by betrayal to then return to kindness. Angelina Jolie has had experience in conflicted roles -characters with secrets, hidden pain, guilt etc.- and o would be perfect for the role of Lady Macbeth.
(Although Porter isn’t a main, I would just like to mention that Johnny Depp would make an excellent drunk man- hint: Captain Jack Sparrow)
3) The conflicts, relationships and events in Macbeth are still considerably relatable in modern day. Throughout our society we here/read of murder, betrayal, secrecy and human bonds being tested, constructed and broken. On some occasions war occurred, civil or international. And to sound deep and brooding- wars against ourselves and the people we love. Macbeth shows how relationships, no matter how strong they appear, can be broken through words, sometimes leading to actions.
Tyler, this is a first-class response to the questions – very well done! Thank you for taking such an obvious interest in the task, as shown by the thoughtful choices and justification you’ve given for those choices. You’ve also shown a mature understanding of the 21st century relevance of the play. I’m impressed!
1) if there was a new Macbeth film I would probably set it in Scotland because that is where the original play is set and it would make it more realistic.
2)I don’t know about famous actors but if I was picking them I would make Tyler French Macbeth because he is a good actor and is confident and dramatic and I would make Alex jelley lady Macbeth because he is good at all different types of acting.
3) i think it is relevant to the 21st century because it teaches us what can happen if you let others manipulate you and also what the consequences of bad crimes are like.
1) I agree with Nell, I would set the play of Macbeth in Scotland as that is where the origin of the play is set. This would make the play more realistic and the characters would fit more to the play.
2) from the play we saw I thought the actors were fantastic! I thought lady mabeth played the part really well, she made each scene really realistic and expressed the emotions well. I think all actors should speak Scottish, this would make sense to the setting of the play.
3) I think this play is relative to the 21st century as it showing us the consequences of not staying true to yourself, and not doing what you want.
(From Pandora) 1) If a new version of Macbeth were to be released I would set it in the location of Scotland because I believe the language and locations in the play are semi-specific to Scotland. Also, the other name for the play is “The Scottish Play” and as I intend on setting it in modern times it needs to link back to Scotland somehow.
I think the play should be set in modern times because although I personally enjoy the original language and context of the play, I don’t think it would appeal to a wider audience as adults would already be familiar with (and probably sick to death of) Macbeth, and younger people (stereotypically) wouldn’t be interested in something that isn’t relevant to todays society.
2) I think the role of Macbeth should be played by Cillian Murphy because of his portrayal of “The Scarecrow” in Batman Begins. His acting of someone who’s completely insane but can act normal to the public is captivating and I think something similar suits the role of Macbeth as he becomes more and more insane and tries to hide it.
I think the role of Lady Macbeth should be played by Nicole Kidman, due to the fact that she is an experienced actor and has proved to be good at the typical role as the wife of a man with ambition that she needs to support (her role in one of Kubrick’s films). Her physical appearance is also very striking with strong features which I think represent Lady Macbeth well.
I think the role of Banquo should be played by Iwan Rheon. Rheon has given very good performances in both Game of Thrones and Misfits. He is not especially good looking but not especially ugly either which suits the character of Banquo as he is “not as happy yet happier” than Macbeth and such; he himself is not destined for greatness but he is connected to it.
3) I think Macbeth is still relevant to the 21st century as it is based around the timeless theme of power struggle, and the backstabbing and sinister events that can go on to obtain it. This could be related to political issues today, as in the public are not fully aware but no one knows what could be going on up at the top other than that new people are constantly being brought in and then leaving.
Pandora, this is carefully considered and brilliantly conceived. Your justification for the casting choices is top-notch – I think both leads would be great too and there’s a pleasing age difference between the two, which I think reflects LM’s ability to dominate her husband – I can imagine Nicole Kidman having such an ability. Well done!
1) Location should be In Northern Scotland; The very far northern highlands. The bitter winds and harsh weather will give the scots strength. This is the origin of the play and will set the characters in a great place.
2) Directed by Len Wiseman
Macbeth would be = Bruce Willis
Lady Macbeth = Maggie Q
Banquo = Timothy Olyphant
DUNCAN = Justin long
3) The timeless power struggle of the 21st century relates to struggle of the Macbeth time
Thanks Jelley. Why would you cast Bruce Willis as Macbeth? What is it about him that’d enable him to play this character effectively? Maggie Q is an interesting choice – why her?
Finally, can you please explain the ‘timeless power struggle of the 21st century’? Who is involved? Why?