Fans of Bridgerton and French literature rejoice, as Season 1 standout Regé-Jean Page is working with independent production company Department M on an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. The announcement — via an exclusive report from Deadline — shared that Pagewill not only star in the film, but also produce it, alongside his producing partner Emily Brown under their A Mighty Stranger banner. Also on board to bring the classic tale of revenge to life is writer Patrick Ness, who also penned Chaos Walking and A Monster Calls.
The Count of Monte Cristo is the story of Edmond Dantès, a man falsely accused of treason, who is thrown into the grim prison Château d’If without trial. Dantès learns from fellow prisoner, Abbé Faria, about the location of a fabulous treasure and, after escaping and finding the cache of wealth, becomes part of high society and enters the world of Parisian nobility to enact revenge on the men who sent him to prison.
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Page played the Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton for the first season of the show, and was quickly thrust into the global spotlight for his performance in the Netflix’s regency-era hit. Page has long said he wouldn’t be returning to the series, which is currently in production on its fourth season, but it’s likely a role that will follow him for the length of his career. During the interview, Page spoke with Deadline about his excitement for the project:
“Bold, adventurous storytelling with heart is the reason I got into this business, and is the backbone of everything we’re making. Working alongside incredible collaborators, A Mighty Stranger is building a slate of creative-led projects that will broaden the cultural lens through pure entertainment. That’s why we’re so excited to be bringing ‘The Count Of Monte Cristo’ to global audiences, unlocking the depths of Dumas’ work in ways not seen yet.”
Of course, this is not the first time a young star has chosen to revisit a classic piece of literature when picking projects. Curious to know more? Read on!
Classic Literature into Classic Movies
It’s no small feat to adapt beloved literary classics into films and television. While Hollywood loves established (and in the case of older works) public domain IP, the works don’t always lend themselves to the screen. The battle these movies and shows fight is one of expectation, given how fans have already populated and created the written word in their heads. They can also suffer from the opposite problem: either not being fresh and relevant enough, or feeling too much like required reading in school. That, however, will never stop up-and-coming talents from trying their hand at different takes on seminal works.
Currently, Page stars alongside Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in Steven Soderbergh’s new espionage thriller Black Bag, which opened this past weekend and is receiving excellent reviews. Department M is also producing Blood On Snow, which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Benedict Cumberbatch and is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga.
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This story originally appeared on Movieweb
