Joss Whedon and Much Ado About Nothing

In the late summer of 2011, Joss Whedon completed principal photography on Marvel’s THE AVENGERS. Upon his return to Los Angeles Joss was contractually obligated to take a week off before beginning his director’s cut of the film. Rather than travel to an exotic location, or disconnect from the world and unwind, Joss chose to make a completely different kind of film. A film that would be shot almost entirely in his home, a film that would be shot in just under 12 days, a film that would be made with close friends, and a film made with a sincere love for the text, a film that would be MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

Shakespeare's classic comedy is given a contemporary spin in Joss Whedon's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Shot in just 12 days (and using the original text), the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that we call love. A Special Presentation at Toronto International Film Festival 2012 and the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2013, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING was also selected as the Closing Night film for the Glasgow Film Festival 2013.

Leonato (Clark Gregg - THE AVENGERS; IRON MAN), the governor of Messina, is visited by his friend Don Pedro (Reed Diamond - MONEYBALL; GOOD NIGHT & GOOD LUCK), who is returning from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother Don John (Sean Maher - SERENITY; TV’s FIREFLY). Accompanying Don Pedro are two of his officers: Benedick (Alexis Denisof - THE AVENGERS; TV’s ANGEL) and Claudio (Fran Kranz - DIARY OF A WIMPY KID; TV’s DOLLHOUSE). While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter Hero (newcomer Jillian Morgese), and Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice (Amy Acker - THE CABIN IN THE WOODS; TV’s ANGEL; DOLLHOUSE), 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 - MILLION DOLLAR BABY) and Borachio (Spencer Treat Clark - MYSTIC RIVER), 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.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is released across the UK and Ireland by Kaleidoscope Entertainment on 14 June 2013