NEW YORK—For Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, creating a script for the most famous love story ever told was no challenge. In a recent press conference for this year’s “Romeo & Juliet” feature adaptation, Fellowes said he’s comfortable recreating the classic love story for today’s demanding youth.
“There is something iconic and relevant in this story that touches every generation,” Fellowes said.
Fellowes believes that the theme of ultimate sacrifice for young love is appealing.
“Perhaps because it’s this sort of ideal that most of us don’t live up to,” he said.
“I got there before ‘Twilight,’” Fellowes said in regard to the theme of self-sacrifice for the sake of love. Juliet is the classic portrayal of a rebellious and foolhardy teenage girl.
The faces for this year’s new Romeo and Juliet are Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld.
Booth said he’s excited that teens get their own, updated version of “Romeo & Juliet.”
Steinfeld said that she hopes every girl will be able to relate.
“A lot of my girlfriends are excited to see it, and they don’t necessarily know that much about Shakespeare or the language or the story,” she said.
When preparing for the scenes, 16-year-old Steinfeld scribbled on her script translations of the original language.
The film not only stayed true to the Shakespearean language—it was also shot in Verona. The actors wore all-original and custom-made period costumes.
