Why are more and more films sounding like extreme mad libs dreamed up by execs? Romeo & Juliet from the hilarious perspective of Juliet’s cousin! A dance version of The Matrix! Anything goes!
As per Variety, Danny Boyle, famed director of Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, is set to helm a dance adaptation of the iconic sci-fi blockbuster.
Titled Free Your Mind, taking its name from a classic quote from the 1999 original, Boyle’s film will premiere next October at Factory International, a new arts venue in Manchester, England.
The project is being described as a “large-scale immersive performance,” and will act as Factory International’s inaugural show. That’s how you christen a new venue, alright.
“Combining the hip-hop choreography of hundreds of dancers with the latest immersive design, Free Your Mind will take audiences on a thrilling journey through The Matrix and into a new realm of possibilities,” the film’s official description explains.
“This eye-opening production will stretch across the building’s ultra-flexible spaces, responding to them and harnessing the collective energy of the moment.”
It feels like both a surprising and unsurprising move from Boyle. The filmmaker has never been one to rest on his laurels throughout his career, directing projects as diverse as a miniseries about the Sex Pistols, a biopic about Steve Jobs, and even the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
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His career has slightly fallen since its mid-2000s peak, with his last three films – 2015’s Steve Jobs, 2017’s Trainspotting sequel, and 2019’s Yesterday – receiving mixed reviews.
At least some of his previous films like Slumdog Millionaire and Yesterday, the Beatles-related comedy, have involved major musical elements, which should help him when working on Free Your Mind.
Tackling a film as iconic as The Matrix, however, is another thing entirely. The film was so popular it spawned three sequels, including last year’s The Matrix Resurrections. I wonder what the Wachowskis’ opinion is on Free Your Mind.
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