Tom-Lenk-and-Nathan-Fillion-in-Much-Ado-About-NothingThere are two films you need to seek out next month: The first is Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing, and the second is Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

Whedon shot the former Shakespeare adaptation in secret in the confines of his own home, and the result is a masterpiece, with a version of Shakespeare’s play unlike any seen before. I was fortunate enough to see the world premiere of Much Ado About Nothing at TIFF last year – you can read our five-star review here – and cannot recommend it enough.

We were recently treated to a brilliant UK trailer. And with its release date just around the corner, we’ve got a great new image to share of Nathan Fillion and Tom Lenk, two of Whedon’s many frequent collaborators, as Dogberry and Verges.

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.

Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker star in the leads as Benedick and Beatrice. And joining them is a slew of Whedon’s frequent collaborators, led by Fran Kranz, Clark Gregg, Sean Maher, Jillian Morgese, Ashley Johnson, Lenk, Reed Diamond, Emma Bates, and Fillion.

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

Snyder’s Man of Steel, due out on June 14th, of course promises an entirely different cinematic experience next month, with the potential to launch the DC Cinematic Universe if all goes well at the box office. With the films’ arrivals coming approximately in the middle of the month, there is more than enough time to make sure you see them both in June.

Fillion and Lenk are absolutely brilliant here, bouncing off each other hilariously as Dogberry and Verges. They bring a lot of comedy to the table in Whedon’s take on the play, and if you’re a fan of Whedon’s work in the past (and, really, you ought to be), then you’re going to love seeing the two on screen together here.

Much Ado About Nothing will begin its limited release in the US on June 7th, before opening wider on June 21st. It UK release will in turn begin on June 14th, before opening in more cinemas in successive weeks – UK readers can find your nearest cinema here.

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