Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage to play titular role in musical drama Cyrano

Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage stars in the musical drama Cyrano, a new film adaptation of the classic French story that premiered in the United Kingdom on Tuesday. The actor reprises his 2018 stage role of the swordsman with a gift for words who struggles to declare his feelings to the woman he loves due to his perceived unattractive appearance, adapted from a theatre production written by his wife Erica Schmidt.

Cyrano is a remake of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac, in which the titular character assists newcomer Christian in writing love letters to Roxanne, the object of both men's affections. Schmidt removed Cyrano's large nose from the original play, which she described as her first entry point into the piece.

As per Reuters, Schmidt stated her case, thinking what if he never said what he finds physically unlovable about himself? She further asked, "What if it was simply in the imagination of the audience?"

Dinklage stated that the change was one of several factors that initially drew him to the role. The Emmy Award winner said that so much of the plot revolves around a guy who is self-conscious about his nose, and by removing the nose, it becomes more universal in the sense that everyone can sort of relate to it.

While Joe Wright, the director, felt it was really important to tell a story about human connection in a world where they seem to be increasingly disconnected, as the pandemic struck, they became even more estranged. So, Wright decided that now was the time to tell this story. He is best known for his work on films such as Pride and Prejudice and Atonement.

Haley Bennett, who was seen in Hillbilly Elegy playing Roxanne, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, actor Kelvin Harrison Jr., plays Christian in the forthcoming film.