Grammy-winning singer Adele is making her acting debut in Tom Ford's upcoming film Cry to Heaven, an adaptation of Anne Rice's 1982 novel set in 18th-century Italy. The project reunites Ford with actors from his previous films and features a star-studded cast including Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Principal photography begins in January 2026 for a fall release.
Project Overview
Tom Ford is directing, writing, and producing Cry to Heaven through his Fade To Black production company. The film adapts Anne Rice's novel, which follows the intertwined lives of a Venetian noble and a castrated opera singer navigating themes of identity, betrayal, love, and artistic freedom in 18th-century Italy. Ford has been developing the project since last year, opting to self-finance for creative control and planning to seek distribution after production.
Cast and Reunions
Adele joins in her film acting debut alongside Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ciarán Hinds, George MacKay, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Owen Cooper, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Hunter Schafer, Josephine Thiesen, Thandiwe Newton, Theodore Pellerin, Daryl McCormack, Cassian Bilton, Hauk Hannemann, and Lux Pascal. The ensemble reunites Ford with Taylor-Johnson from Nocturnal Animals and Firth from A Single Man, both critically acclaimed efforts.
Production Timeline
Pre-production is underway in London and Rome, with principal photography starting in mid-January 2026. The film targets a late autumn 2026 release. This marks Ford's third directorial outing following A Single Man (2009), which earned Oscar and BAFTA nods, and Nocturnal Animals (2016), a Venice Grand Jury Prize winner.
Adele's Transition
Adele, on hiatus from music after her 2024 Las Vegas residency, expressed interest in other creative pursuits. In July 2024, she stated, 'I want a big break after this, and I think I want to do other creative things, just for a little while.' Ford's spokesman confirmed the casting to BBC News.
