If Valentine's Day has you in the mood for some tender and ultimately doomed romance, Hulu has you covered. Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet is coming to the streaming service just in time to warm those cold February nights. The 1996 film will debut on the service on February 1, 2025. After the success of his debut feature, Strictly Ballroom, Luhrmann made an adaptation of William Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo & Juliet his first international film.
It takes an unusual approach to the material; while it moves the action to the then-contemporary "Verona Beach" of 1996, all of Shakespeare's dialogue is preserved. Thus, when characters "draw their swords," they unholster Sword-brand handguns; when a letter is sent "posthaste," it is delivered by Post Haste, a FedEx-like delivery service; and the film's prologue and chorus are provided as a local newscast. Leonardo DiCaprio was cast first as Romeo, but finding the right Juliet proved difficult. Natalie Portman was originally cast in the role, but proved to look too young next to DiCaprio; her replacement, Sarah Michelle Gellar, had to drop out after a scheduling conflict. Finally, Claire Danes was chosen thanks to her chemistry with DiCaprio; however, it appears that they did not get along on set.
Who Stars in 'Romeo + Juliet'?
In addition to DiCaprio and Danes, the film boasts a loaded cast of 1990s stars and stars-to-be. John Leguizamo plays Juliet's hot-headed cousin Tybalt; Harold Perrineau plays Romeo's flamboyant and doomed best friend, Mercutio; and Paul Rudd plays Paris, Juliet's would-be suitor. Brian Dennehy and Christina Pickles play Romeo's parents, Paul Sorvino and Diane Venora play Juliet's, and the other adult roles in the play are portrayed by able character actors Miriam Margolyes (the nurse), Pete Postlethwaite (Father Laurence), M. Emmet Walsh (the apothecary), and Vondie Curtis-Hall (the Prince of Verona, here reimagined as police captain Prince).
Romeo + Juliet was a hit, earning $147.6 million on a $14.5 million budget; critics were also pleased with it, and it holds a 74% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film's success established Luhrmann as a success outside Australia, paving the way for future hits like Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby, and Elvis. The film's soundtrack was also extremely popular, going triple-platinum in the US, and spawned several hit singles, including The Cardigans' "Lovefool." It remains a nostalgic classic of 1990s cinema, beloved by the millennial generation.
Romeo + Juliet will stream on Hulu starting February 1, 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
Image via 20th Century Fox
English (US) ·