The Tragedy of Macbeth’s Alex Hassell on Joel Coen’s Aesthetic Choices

With writer-director Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth now playing in select theaters and streaming on Apple TV , I recently got to speak with Alex Hassell about making the William Shakespeare adaptation. As Matt perfectly summarized in his glowing review for The Tragedy of Macbeth, the story follows Macbeth (Denzel Washington), a celebrated warrior and general in service of the King, Duncan (Brendan Gleeson). While returning to camp, Macbeth and his friend and fellow general Banquo (Bertie Carvel) come across three witches (Kathryn Hunter), who prophesize that Macbeth will become king, but that Banquo will be father to a line of kings. Macbeth relays this information to his wife (Frances McDormand), who schemes that Macbeth should murder Duncan when he comes to stay at their home and then ascend to the throne. Macbeth agrees and the prophecy is fulfilled, but in his quest to maintain power, he goes on a murderous rampage that eventually has him at war with his countrymen. The film also stars Corey Hawkins a