adele to Star in Tom Ford’s ‘Cry to Heaven’ in Acting Debut
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Adele is poised to make her long-awaited acting debut in “Cry to Heaven,” the upcoming film by acclaimed fashion designer and filmmaker Tom Ford. The project,an adaptation of Anne Rice’s 1982 novel,promises a dramatic exploration of 18th-century Italy and boasts an ensemble cast of Hollywood’s leading talents.
The film is currently in pre-production, with shooting scheduled to begin in January and a projected release in late 2026. This marks a significant shift for Ford, who announced in 2023 his increasing focus on filmmaking, stating, “I loved making the two films that I made…That was the most fun I’ve ever had in my entire life.” He further explained his decision to step back from fashion, characterizing it as “a younger man’s game.”
A Stellar Cast Assembles for Ford’s Third Feature
Alongside Adele, “Cry to Heaven” will feature a remarkable lineup of actors, including Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ciarán Hinds, Thandiwe Newton, Colin Firth, Mark strong, Hunter Schafer, Daryl McCormack, George MacKay, Paul Bettany, and rising star Owen Cooper. Cooper, a 15-year-old Emmy Award winner for his work in a Netflix drama, is also set to appear in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.”
The Story Behind the opera
The narrative centers on the unlikely partnership between a Venetian noble and a castrated maestro from Calabria as they navigate the competitive world of opera.Critics have lauded Rice’s novel for its evocative prose and compelling themes. According to The New York Times Book Review, the story is “bold and erotic, laced with luxury, sexual tension, music,” while The Washington Post described it as “an absorbing look at a fascinating and little-known world.”
Ford’s Filmmaking Journey
“Cry to Heaven” will be Ford’s third venture into filmmaking, following the Oscar-nominated “A Single Man,” an adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s novel, and the suspenseful thriller “Nocturnal Animals,” starring Amy Adams. His previous films demonstrate a keen eye for visual storytelling and complex character studies.
This project arrives after previous discussions of Adele taking on a role in Xavier Dolan’s “The Death and Life of John F Donovan,” where she contributed a song but ultimately did not appear on screen. That film received a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a point of reference as Adele embarks on this new creative path.
A Break from Music, A Leap into Acting
the declaration comes after Adele concluded a series of sold-out concerts in Munich last year and announced an indefinite hiatus from music. This move suggests a deliberate exploration of new artistic avenues for the globally renowned singer. “Cry to Heaven” represents not only adele’s acting debut but also a continuation of the growing trend of adaptations of Anne Rice’s work, following recent television series like “interview with the Vampire,” “Mayfair Witches,” and “Talamasca: The Secret Order.”
