I am pleased to announce that Shonda Rimes--savior of television, creative genius, and the mind behind such amazing productions as Grey's Anatomy, How To Get Away With Murder, and The Princess Diaries 2 (which we can all agree is the superior Princess Diaries movie)--is saving the summer broadcasting schedule once again. Amongst the glut of new game shows and attempts at feel-good programming comes the melodramatic, romantic, frothy retelling of Romeo and Juliet that we needed: namely, the new TV show Still Star-Crossed.
Starring such amazing actors as Lashana Lynch (of BBC fame), Wade Briggs (from the long-running show Please Like Me, which also starred Caitlin Stasey), and Sterling Sulieman (from the fan-favorite Pretty Little Liars), Still Star-Crossed covers the drama leading up to and following after the deaths of the famous Romeo and Juliet, a plot line that promises to be chock-full of angsty arranged marriages, dramatic intrigue, secret romances, and amazing costuming. Lynch plays Rosaline Capulet, the original object of Romeo's affections before he met Juliet, and she isn't the only original Shakespeare character that will pop up in this remake: Benvolio, Friar Lawrence, Juliet's Nurse, and Mercutio all make appearances as well, ensuring that Shakespeare geeks and novices alike will have a ton of inside jokes and original content to latch onto as the show progresses.
The show itself premieres on May 29, but if you can't wait that long, feel free to jump ahead of the plot and read the book the show itself is based on, "Still Star-Crossed" by Melinda Taub. It's available on all major book download sites (God bless iBooks, honestly!) and is sure to be a captivating beach read for all your summer relaxation needs. Until then, be sure to bone up on all of your Shakespeare trivia and favorite quotes, because whether you read or watch Still Star-Crossed, the story promises to be an exciting and intriguing glimpse into the Verona that we all know and love so well.
