Much Ado About Nothing
William Shakespeare is one of the most adapted writers of all time with his work be re-imagined time and time again for film, TV and theatre.
This week sees Joss Whedon back in the director's chair as he bring his take on Much Ado About Nothing to the big screen.
So to celebrate this new adaptation of this country's most famous playwright we take a look at some of the best film adaptations over the years.
- Romeo & Juliet (1997)
Romeo & Juliet is one of Shakespeare's best known plays and has been adapted for the big screen many times.
In 1997 director Baz Luhrmann got his hands on the story and put his own spin on the tale of doomed love.
While the film kept the original dialogue the film was is in a modern superb of Verona while swords became guns and the Montagues and the Capulets were rivals in business and religion.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes took on the title roles in the film while John Leguizamo and Pete Postlethwaite were also on board.
Luhrmann has always made visually lavish movies and Romeo & Juliet was no exception as it really was a treat of a film.
Romeo & Juliet was a critical and commercial hit and helped to raise the profiles of both DiCaprio and Danes.
- Coriolanus (2012)
The last major Shakespeare adaptation that we enjoyed came at the beginning of last year, in the form of Coriolanus.
The movie marked the big screen directorial debut of Ralph Fiennes, who also took on the title role in the film.
The film kept the original language but was set in a modern day alternate version of Rome while Fiennes played a feared Roman general who was at odds with the city.
Vanessa Redgrave, Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain and Brian Cox were also on the cast list of a terrific adaptation.
Coriolanus had a very gritty and real feel to it as Fiennes kept the spirit of the play while tapping into modern day problems and concerns which gave a current feel to it.
- Hamlet (1996)
There have been many adaptations of Hamlet over the years but in 1996 it was Kenneth Branagh who took on the title character.
Not only did Branagh star in the film but he also directed and adapted the Shakespeare play into a script.
Branagh was joined on the cast list by Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Richard Briers and Kate Winslet.
This is widely regarded as one of the best performances of Branagh's career as he delivered a version of Hamlet that was both captivating and compelling from start to finish.
The film went on to be nominated for four Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Branagh.
- Henry V (1944)
Laurence Olivier is one of the greatest British actors of all time and in 1944 he made his directorial debut with Henry V.
Olivier also starred in the movie that followed the newly crowned King of England who is fighting the French for control of Normandy.
Henry V is widely regarded as one of the greatest Shakespeare adaptations of all time - and it was one of the first to be successful.
The film went on to be nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Olivier.
Over the next ten years Olivier would bring Hamlet and Richard III to the big screen; he directed and starred in them both.
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
In 1999 director Gil Junger put a new spin on The Taming of the Shrew as she brought 10 Things I Hate About You to the big screen.
The teen comedy brought the Shakespeare story to a new generation as it was set in a modern day high school.
Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger took on the central roles of Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona. Joseph Gordon Levitt, Larisa Oleynik and David Krumholtz were all also on board.
From start to finish 10 Things I Hate About You is a movie that is a lot of fun - and it remains one of the most loved teen films of all time.
Much Ado About Nothing is released 14th June.