The singer Adele will take her first steps in the cinema, but not with just any director. We have been waiting for his return for ten years already.
Adele has already dipped a toe or two into the film business. In 2013, she won an Oscar for best original song for a small film called Heavy rainphenomenal success of the James Bond sagaalongside Paul Epworth. She also shot two music videos with Xavier Dolan, for Hello in 2015, and Easy on Me in 2021.
In 2023, she explained that the industry had clearly been flirting with her for years, and had offered a bunch of roles in biopics about female singers which she had refused because it was too obvious – and therefore, too annoying. She nevertheless took the opportunity to say that there was a role, and a filmmaker, that she wanted, without being more specific.
Was his wish granted? In any case, Adele will take her first steps in the cinema, with a talented filmmaker and within a first-rate cast.
HELLO HOLLYWOOD, IT’S ME
Adele will therefore launch herself as an actress in the movie Cry to Heavenwritten and directed by Tom Ford. And if this name evokes nothing more than the world of fashion, it’s high time to catch up on the first two feature films of the gentleman who worked for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent: A Single Manreleased in 2009, and Nocturnal Animalsreleased in 2016.
In A Single Manhe told the story of a Colin Firth wanting to end his life after the death of the one he loved. We then followed his potential last day, during which he took a different look at things and people. In Nocturnal Animalshe intertwined two stories with, on one side, Amy Adams suffocated in a frozen life and, on the other, the nightmarish book written by her ex-played by Jake Gyllenhaal.
In any case, Tom Ford had stated in two films an exquisite taste for atmosphereres captivating, the ultra-careful framing, the heady music and of course the fancy costumes and makeup. Without forgetting the main thing: the magnificently directed actors and actresses, whether it be Colin Firth (Oscar nominated), Julianne Moore or Nicholas Hoult in A Single Man, or Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Michael Shannon (Oscar nominated) in Nocturnal Animals.
THE UNDREAMED LIFE OF ANGELS
Pour Cry to HeavenTom Ford has once again assembled a great team. In addition to Adele, he will find Colin Firth, Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor-Johnsonwhich he has already directed. Also in the cast: Ciarán Hinds (Belfast, Rome), George MacKay (1917), Thandiwe Newton (Westworld, Mission : Impossible 2), Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Owen Cooper (revelation of the Netflix series Adolesence), Mark Strong, Paul Bettany, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Josephine Thiesen, Theodore Pellerin, Daryl McCormack, Cassian Bilton, Hauk Hannenmann and Lux Pascal.
Cry to Heaven is adapted from book The Voice of Angels written by Anne Ricewriter widely known for her Interview with a Vampire. No long teeth here (not in the literal sense anyway), but still the motif of male homosexuality. The story will take place in 18th century Italy and will follow two men : Guido Maffeo, castrated from a young age to become an opera singer, but who failed in his career; and Tonio Treschi, castrated and rejected son of a noble Venetian family, who also loves singing.
Sent to Naples, Tonio will study singing with Guido and become a renowned singer, while preparing his revenge against his clan.
The filming of Cry to Heaven will begin in January 2026, between Rome and London. The film should be ready by the end of 2026, right on time for Oscar season. Tom Ford having financed the project himself via his production company Fade To Black in the hope of finding financial support once production is completed, that’s all the bad we wish him. Because Nocturnal Animals is already ten years old all the same.
