Much-Ado-About-Nothing-UK-PosterJoss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing is absolutely a must-see movie of the year, which deserves every ounce of the critical praise it has been receiving since its TIFF debut last year – you can read our five-star review here.

The film begins its limited release in the US today, ahead of opening in the UK next weekend, and opening wider in the US the following weekend. And a great new clip from the film has been released online, in which we get to see a battle of wits between Amy Acker’s Beatrice and Alexis Denisof’s Benedick.

Leonato (Clark Gregg), the governor of Messina, is visited by his friend Don Pedro (Reed Diamond), who is returning from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother Don John (Sean Maher). Accompanying Don Pedro are two of his officers: Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Claudio (Fran Kranz). While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato’s daughter Hero (Jillian Morgese), and Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice (Amy Acker), the governor’s niece. The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange, with Leonato, their marriage.

In the days leading up to the ceremony, Don Pedro, with the help of Leonato, Claudio and Hero, attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to trick the two into falling in love. Meanwhile, the villainous Don John, with the help of his allies Conrade (Riki Lindhome) and Borachio (Spencer Treat Clark), plots against the happy couple, using his own form of trickery to try to destroy the marriage before it begins. A series of comic and tragic events may continue to keep the two couples from truly finding happiness, but then again perhaps love may prevail.

Acker and Denisof are joined by one of the best casts of the year, led by Fran Kranz, Clark Gregg, Sean Maher, Jillian Morgese, Ashley Johnson, Lenk, Reed Diamond, Emma Bates, and the ever-great Nathan Fillion.

Whedon is directing from his own script, using the original text from Shakespeare’s play and updating it to a contemporary setting.

I was fortunate enough to see Much Ado About Nothing at its world premiere in Toronto last September and instantly fell in love with it. The film has been lauded as one of the greatest Shakespeare adaptations of all time, and rightly so – personally, I would argue it is the greatest of them all, hands down. And for that reason, and so many more, I cannot recommend it enough.

Much Ado About Nothing begins its limited US release in New York, LA, and San Francisco today, June 7th. It opens in the UK next Friday, 14th June, and will be opening wider across both the US and UK from the following week, June 21st. Here’s the terrific new clip to help make the wait that little bit easier. This simply must be seen.

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