As a huge fan of James Gunn’s work, it’s fascinating to dive into his early beginnings with “Tromeo and Juliet,” now available on Shudder. This wild, outrageous retelling of Shakespeare’s classic love story is a far cry from the polished superhero films that made Gunn a household name but reveals his unique storytelling prowess.
James Gunn’s first project, a bold adaptation of “Tromeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare, is now available on Shudder. Though renowned for his superhero creations, Gunn kicked off his career with this unconventional love story retelling. Hired to rewrite the script, he collaborated with Troma’s iconic Lloyd Kaufman on the final version and even stepped in as an assistant director.
In the same year that Baz Luhrmann’s more widely known version of “Romeo and Juliet,” featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, premiered in cinemas, the unconventional film adaptation titled “Tromeo and Juliet” was released. Despite sharing the same title and basic plot with Shakespeare’s tragedy, these two films are drastically different. In “Tromeo and Juliet,” portrayed by Will Keenan and Jane Jensen, the story is a hyperbolic and sexually graphic retelling of the classic tale. The film takes place in 1990s Manhattan and centers around the forbidden love between Tromeo and Juliet, whose families, the wealthy Capulets and impoverished Montagues, are locked in a bitter feud. The story is presented against a backdrop of excessive violence, rampant sex, and absurd humor. Additionally, “Tromeo and Juliet” offers an alternate ending for the lovers that some may consider a happy resolution.
The production of “Tromeo and Juliet” signified a new milestone for the Gunn family. Sean Gunn, portraying Sammy Capulet, experienced his initial appearance in a feature film through this unique project. Although he later gained fame for his humorous roles as Kirk in “Gilmore Girls” and Kraglin in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, Sean’s acting career commenced with this cult movie.
James Gunn’s Cinematic Path
As a gamer, I can tell you that even though James Gunn’s early work like “Tromeo and Juliet” might feel far removed from his current projects, it showcases his unique knack for dark comedy and unconventional storytelling. A few years after “Tromeo and Juliet,” he dived into the superhero genre with “The Specials” in 2000, and revisited it once more a decade later with “Super.” Over the years, Gunn’s superhero credits have grown to include the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy and “The Suicide Squad,” which was released in 2021. In 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery brought Gunn and Peter Safran on board as co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios. With this new role, Gunn will produce and executive produce every film and series within the upcoming DC Universe. His next directorial project is the highly-anticipated “Superman” reboot featuring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, which is scheduled for a 2025 release.
With Shudder’s understated introduction of “Tromeo and Juliet,” there’s a strong possibility that this film will be featured on an upcoming episode of “The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs.” Shudder has a pattern of showcasing movies on the program following discreet debuts. Moreover, Kaufman appeared as a guest, and Briggs previously reviewed Troma’s iconic production, “The Toxic Avenger,” during this season. We eagerly anticipate this potential collaboration. Regardless, fans of horror and cult films must not miss out on the unforgettable 1990s spectacle that is “Tromeo and Juliet.”
For those not in the know, Troma is an American film company established in 1974 by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz. They are renowned for creating a distinctly offbeat cinema genre, with hits like “The Toxic Avenger,” “Tromeo and Juliet,” “Class of Nuke ‘Em High,” and “Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead” under their belt. In this last production, the horror comedy unfolds around possessed chickens.
Tromeo and Juliet
is streaming on Shudder and AMC+.
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2024-07-23 22:01