New The Elephant Man Movie Casts A Different Man Star in Lead Role

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It’s been confirmed that Adam Pearson will take on the primary role in the upcoming film adaptation of “The Elephant Man,” a play that won awards and was written by Bernard Pomerance. This is Pearson’s first venture into movies since his stellar performance in the 2024 psychological dark comedy, “A Different Man,” where Sebastian Stan also starred.

In the upcoming project, Moby Pomerance, son of Bernard Pomerance, will be penning the script, while his sister Eve Pomerance takes on a producer role. The film production is entrusted to Stephen Nemeth for Rhino Films. Anticipate the commencement of production in the spring of 2026.

Adam Pearson on joining The Elephant Man movie

In the upcoming movie, Pearson is slated to assume the character of Joseph Merrick, a British man famed for his physical abnormalities. This marks the first instance where a disabled actor will depict Merrick on screen, following portrayals by David Schofield, David Bowie, Mark Hamill, Bradley Cooper in various adaptations of Pomerance’s play, and John Hurt in David Lynch’s 1980 film.

In a statement, Pearson shared that he’s had a deep and intricate history with Joseph Merrick. From seeing his name used as an insult to discovering more about him through documentaries he hosted, it has been a healing process for him. As a child, he avoided thinking about Merrick, but now, as a disability advocate and actor, he considers it a profound privilege (yet significant responsibility) to share the authentic story of Joseph Carey Merrick.

Eve Pomerance commented, “My dad didn’t prefer using prosthetics on stage because he believed it distracted the audience from the story. He wanted viewers to fully connect with Merrick and recognize their own humanity in him. Lines like ‘I am not an animal, I am a man,’ which are closely tied to the play, will resonate more deeply when told by Adam, allowing audiences to truly walk in Merrick’s shoes. My dad would be thrilled to see his vision come true.

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2025-05-01 19:40