Barbara Broccoli’s Eon Productions, known globally for the James Bond franchise, has announced its first major post-007 project: a contemporary film adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, per screendaily.com.
The film will be directed by and stars David Oyelowo in the title role, reprising the part he played on stage in 2016. He will be joined by his former stage co-star Rachel Brosnahan as Desdemona, and Golden Globe-winner Cynthia Erivo as Emilia.
Production is set to begin in Qatar in autumn 2026.
The project, announced by Broccoli, Oyelowo and producer Nicky Bentham at the Doha Film Festival’s Industry Days, is an ambitious cinematic take on the classic text.
The adaptation will reimagine the play in a contemporary, war-torn desert setting in the Middle East.
Barbara Broccoli, who will produce alongside Nicky Bentham for Eon and Oyelowo for his Yoruba Saxon banner, highlighted the new approach. “In 500 years, the story of Othello has never really been told from the point of view of Othello, which seems ridiculous,” she said.
Oyelowo stated the film will be “bitingly modern and fearlessly ambitious,” focusing on a “four-hander” dynamic between Othello, Desdemona, Emilia and the antagonist, Iago.
“We’re making it so you see these four different points of view: Iago, who is threatened by power; Othello, who is beset by insecurity… And then Emilia, who is in an abusive relationship with Iago,” explained Oyelowo.
The director praised his co-stars, calling Erivo a “generational talent” and Brosnahan “an inspiring pillar” following their work on the original New York Theatre Workshop stage production in 2016. In that celebrated production, Oyelowo starred opposite Daniel Craig as Iago.
The film is significantly backed by the Qatari government’s new Film Committee at Media City Qatar, which was recently established to boost the country’s global position as a film production and financing destination. Katara Studios is also co-financing the feature.
Othello will be one of the first major projects to utilise the newly launched Qatar Screen Production Incentive, which offers an industry-leading cash rebate of up to 50%. VFX and post-production will be handled by Company 3, who recently announced a pact with Qatar.
