Tom Ford, the fashion designer and filmmaker, has officially started principal photography on his long-anticipated adaptation of Cry to Heaven, the 1982 historical novel by Anne Rice. Filming is underway in Italy and the UK, with principal photography kicking off in January 2026 in Rome and London. The project marks Ford’s return to directing after nearly a decade, following his acclaimed A Single Man and Nocturnal Animals, and it has already generated significant buzz for its ensemble cast, lavish setting, and deeply layered narrative rooted in 18th-century Italian opera.
Rice’s Cry to Heaven is a sprawling historical drama set in the vibrant, baroque world of 18th-century Italy, where opera and politics intertwine. The story follows two central figures whose lives become tragically and powerfully bound by art, identity, betrayal, and ambition. Tonio Treschi, a young Venetian nobleman, becomes the victim of a dark familial betrayal when his half-brother orchestrates his castration to secure his inheritance. Cast out from his noble life, Tonio is forced into the world of castrati, male singers who were surgically altered before puberty so their voices would retain a high, powerful soprano range into adulthood.
Alongside Tonio is Guido Maffeo, a peasant-born boy who was castrated at a very young age to pursue a life on the opera stage. Guido finds fame and acclaim as a soprano, only to lose his voice as he matures, and he becomes a teacher at the Naples conservatory where Tonio is sent. Their complex relationship, shaped by mentorship, rivalry, mutual desire, and shared trauma, is at the heart of the narrative, capturing Rice’s exploration of art, gender, power, and the high cost of beauty and ambition.
In adapting this rich and often controversial story, Tom Ford is both writing the screenplay and directing, producing through his Fade to Black production company. Ford is known for his meticulous visual style and thematic depth, qualities that fans and critics expect will translate uniquely to this period drama. While there has been no official announcement of a traditional studio budget, Ford is reportedly self-financing the film, opting to retain creative control and bring it to market once production wraps. This independent financing approach follows his preference for artistic autonomy, and it comes after his successful career in fashion, including the sale of his eponymous brand for billions of dollars, giving him the means to back the project without a major studio partner.
The ensemble cast is headlined by some of today’s most respected actors. Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ciarán Hinds, George MacKay, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Hunter Schafer, Thandiwe Newton, and Daryl McCormack are among those attached. In a high-profile casting coup, Grammy-winning singer Adele is set to make her feature film acting debut in Cry to Heaven, though her specific role remains under wraps. Alongside her is up-and-coming actor Owen Cooper and a roster of other talented performers including Daniel Quinn-Toye, Josephine Thiesen, Théodore Pellerin, Cassian Bilton, Hauk Hannemann, and Lux Pascal.
Although production costs have not been publicly disclosed, industry observers note that period dramas with large ensemble casts, detailed set design, and extensive location shooting typically involve significant investment. Filming on location in Italy, with plans to use historic sites that reflect the novel’s Venetian and Neapolitan settings, suggests a commitment to authenticity and visual richness that could rival major studio historical epics. The opera world, with its ornate costumes and dramatic musical sequences, also promises to be a centerpiece of the film’s aesthetic, potentially elevating both its visual and auditory impact.
The Cry to Heaven adaptation is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious films of Ford’s career, blending his fashion sensibility with the emotional depth and grand scale of Rice’s storytelling. The novel’s exploration of identity, sacrifice, sensuality, and artistic passion aligns well with the director’s strengths, and many are watching closely to see how he navigates the challenging material. With filming underway in Italy and the UK, the stage is set for Ford’s latest cinematic statement, expected to debut in late 2026.