David Oyelowo ("Selma"), Rachel Brosnahan ("Superman") and Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked") have signed on to star in the upcoming adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Othello". Oyelowo is also set to direct the film, which is produced by Barbara Broccoli, who is best known for her work on the James Bond film series.
Broccoli's long-gestating project is inspired by her 2016 theater production of the Shakespeare classic "Othello", which moves the story from 17th century Venice to a U.S. barracks in Iraq. The original stage production, which had a short run at the New York Theater Workshop, was directed by Sam Gold, and starred Oyelowo as Othello opposite Daniel Craig's Iago.
Oyelowo and Brosnahan reprise their roles as Othello and Desdemona from the play alongside Erivo, who will play Desdemona's maid Emilia.
Broccoli has confirmed that the film has secured financial backing in Qatar and will shoot in the Gulf territory in the autumn of 2026. The announcement came at the three-day Industry Days in Qatar hosted by the Film Committee at Media City Qatar in partnership with the Doha Film Institute.
Nicky Bentham also produces alongside Broccoli for EON Productions, Oyelowo for Yoruba Saxon and in partnership with Qatar’s Doha-based Katara Studios, which is co-financing the feature. The film will also tap into the country's recently announced Qatar Screen Production Incentive (QSPI). L.A.-based post-production and VFX giant Company 3, which announced on Saturday that it was setting up an operation in Doha, will also be working on the film.
Here's what Broccoli had to say about the project: "I've wanted to produce the cinematic adaptation of Othello since we staged the production in New York in 2016. I'm incredibly excited that David Oyelowo will be directing and returning as Othello, Rachel Brosnahan will be reprising the role of Desdemona and Cynthia Erivo is playing Emilia. We thank the Film Committee for their support and look forward to shooting in Qatar in Autumn 2026".
Oyelowo added: "Our cinematic version of Othello is bitingly modern and fearlessly ambitious. To have a real shot at that, you need fearless actors. Cynthia is not only a generational talent but a dear friend with whom I am always keen to collaborate, and Rachel was a dream to play opposite in our original stage production and has been an inspiring pillar to build around for our fresh take on this legendary tale".
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