Jeffrey Wright, Octavia Spencer Lead New 'Death of a Salesman' — But Can This Cast Break the Play’s Movie Curse?
A legendary play, yet no film has nailed it.
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman keeps drawing filmmakers back, and now it’s Jeffrey Wright and Octavia Spencer stepping into the shoes of Willy and Linda Loman.
Focus Features and Spielberg’s Amblin are behind the project, with Chinonye Chukwu (Till) directing and Tony Kushner (Lincoln, Munich) writing the script. A heavyweight team, no doubt.
The Play’s Tough Screen History
Since its 1949 debut, the play has been a cornerstone of American theatre — Pulitzer in hand and endless revivals. But cinema? Not so kind. The 1951 film disappointed, and even the acclaimed 1985 TV version with Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich never became a definitive classic.
Strange, isn’t it, how such a towering work still waits for its perfect screen telling?
Why This Version Might Stick
Wright’s subtle intensity, fresh from American Fiction, and Spencer’s grounded warmth make a fascinating pair. Add Kushner’s words and Chukwu’s eye, and there’s real potential. Could this be the film that finally cracks the 'curse'?
I can’t help but wonder — will Death of a Salesman ever truly thrive on screen, or is it destined to remain theatre’s masterpiece alone?
