There will soon be a fresh take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet available on Hulu, giving viewers a chance to see the classic tale from a different angle. Hulu and 20th Century Fox have released a new Rosaline promo ahead of the film’s debut. Kaitlyn Dever stars as Romeo, while Isabela Merced plays Juliet in this clip. In the scene, Juliet breaks some bad news to Rosaline: she’s found a suitor, and it’s Romeo, just as Rosaline feared (Kyle Allen). However, when telling Rosaline about Romeo, Juliet is so caught up in the romance of their newfound acquaintance that she fails to observe Rosaline’s reaction.
Similarly, Rosaline goes through a roller coaster of feelings, but she attempts to hide her displeasure as best she can. So that her sister Juliet doesn’t have to go through the same pain, Rosaline ultimately tells her about Romeo’s extensive charm. This teaser, like the one before it, and the previously released clip, suggest that Rosaline will be a contemporary version of the classic tale, with a focus on the language. Shakespeare’s Early Modern English is incorporated into the text, but those who prefer a more contemporary style of writing will find it easier to understand and follow.
It adds comic depth by providing the film’s setting with greater narrative leeway. The newest footage also gives us a better look at Dever’s Rosaline, who, unlike other characters like Juliet, doesn’t always play by the rules. The story of Rosaline centres on the eponymous protagonist, a young lady whose connection with Romeo ended after he met Juliet. Rosaline has lost her love, but she is determined to gain him back. With the fear of losing Romeo forever, she sabotages the new relationship at every opportunity.
The film also speculates on what could happen if Rosaline, rather than Romeo, experienced the heartbreak of unrequited love first, and therefore shifts the attention to a character who was originally more of a sidekick in the play. The film is based on Rebecca Serle’s novel When You Were Mine. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, who wrote The Fault in Our Stars, adapted the novel into a screenplay. Starstruck on HBO was directed by Karen Maine. Emily Morris served as executive producer with Dever, Neustadter, Weber, and themselves. Producing duties were shared between Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, and Dan Levine. Bradley Whitford, Minnie Driver, Christopher McDonald, Sean Teale, Nico Hiraga, Henry Hunter Hall, and Alhaji Fofana round out the supporting cast.
On October 14, Hulu will debut the series, Rosaline.