The Public's Much Ado About Nothing (2019): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2019, The Public's Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy film directed by Kenny Leon.

What it’s about. This bold interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece features Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black,” Broadway’s “The Color Purple”) and Grantham Coleman (“Buzzer,” “The Americans”) as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick. Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“American Son,” “A Raisin in the Sun”) directs with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown (“Choir Boy”). Set in contemporary Georgia with an election race underway, Great Performances: Much Ado About Nothing finds the community of Messina celebrating a break from an ongoing war, but not all is peaceful amid the merriment. Former rivals battle it out, revenge is sought and trickery runs amok in this timeless comedy of romantic retribution and miscommunication. Earning a New York Times Critic’s Pick, the play was recorded during its final weekend of Free Shakespeare in the Park performances, June 22-23, 2019.

Who’s in it. The Public's Much Ado About Nothing stars Danielle Brooks as Beatrice, Grantham Coleman as Benedick, Chuck Cooper as Leonato and Erik LaRay Harvey as Antonio/Verges, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Public's Much Ado About Nothing page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Public's Much Ado About Nothing tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.