Titus (1999) - Synopsis

Titus (2000)

Overseas Filmgroup and Clear Blue Sky Productions present "Titus," the feature film directorial debut of Julie Taymor, who also wrote the screenplay. Produced by Jody Patton, Conchita Airoldi and Julie Taymor and executive produced by Paul G. Allen, the film stars Academy Award® winners Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange, as well as Alan Cumming, Colm Feore, James Frain, Laura Fraser, Harry Lennix, Angus Macfadyen, Matthew Rhys and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Ellen Little, Robbie Little and Stephen K. Bannon are co-executive producers.

Taymor, an Emmy and OBIE award-winner who earned two Tony Awards for the Broadway version of"The Lion King," first staged her version of Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus" in 1995 to New York theatre audiences who were mesmerized by her surreal and time-bending fusion of costumes and settings from many eras. This comic tragedy begins with the great Roman general, Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins), returning home victorious after a long and brutal war with the Goths. His first act is to ritually sacrifice the eldest son of the Goth Queen, Tamora (Jessica Lange), his prisoner. But when the corrupt Saturninus (Alan Cumming) is made emperor and surprisingly makes Tamora his queen, a new battle ensues as Tamora, and then Titus, enact a tale of double revenge.

To bring Taymor's vision to the screen, she has assembled a talent creative team including the five-time Academy Award®-nominated production designer Dante Ferretti (Kundun (1997), Adventures of Baron Munchausen, the (1988)), two-time Oscar®-winning costume designer Milena Canonero (Chariots of Fire (1981), Clockwork Orange, a (1971)), two-time Academy Award®-nominated composer Elliot Goldenthal (Interview with the Vampire (1994), Butcher Boy, the (1997)), director of photography Luciano Tovoli (Reversal of Fortune (1990), Before and After (1996)) and Oscar®-winning editor Françoise Bonnot ("Missing," "The Year of the Dragon").