ANARCHY (originally titled CYMBELINE) is based on the classic William Shakespeare play, using a current setting with biker gangs and dirty cops. The impressive cast includes Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Milla Jovovich, John Leguizamo, Penn Badgley, Dakota Johnson, Anton Yelchin, Peter Gerety, Kevin Corrigan, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Spencer Treat Clark, James Ransone, Bill Pullman, Delroy Lindo (where’s he been?). It’s directed by Michael Almereyda, who previously did Shakespeare with Hawke in the 2000 film version of HAMLET. Check out the trailer below and see what you think. These modern day takes on Shakespeare never seem to do that well in theaters, but they’re certainly intriguing experiments. The cast alone will put my butt in a seat for this one. It is either funny or highly coincidental that they re-named the film ANARCHY, since THE PURGE: ANARCHY (a sequel to the original which starred Ethan Hawke) was highly successful, and the hit series SONS OF ANARCHY (also about a biker gang) just ended… but I will say it’s not a bad title either way.
Academy Award® nominees Ethan Hawke (Best Supporting Actor, Training Day, 2001) and Ed Harris (Best Actor, Pollock, 2000) lead a powerhouse cast including Milla Jovovich, John Leguizamo, Penn Badgley, Dakota Johnson and Anton Yelchin, with Bill Pullman and Delroy Lindo in a gritty story of a take-no-prisoners war between dirty cops and an outlaw biker gang. Now, a drug kingpin (Harris) is driven to desperate measures in this explosive film based on Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.