Adam Pearson, known for portraying Oswald in the 2024 filmA Different Man, will next tackle a significant role in a new adaptation of a classic. Pearson, who lives with neurofibromatosis, has been cast as Joseph Casey Merrick in an upcoming adaptation of Bernard Pomerance’s renowned play,The Elephant Man. In a statement to Variety, Pearson shared that he has a “long and complex relationship” with Merrick.
“From having his name used as a term of derision to learning about the man himself in documentaries I’ve presented. It’s been a cathartic journey of growing to love and respect a man who I as a child I avoided even thinking about. Now as a disability advocate and actor, I can think of no greater honour (yet heavy responsibility) than to tell the true story of Joseph Carey Merrick,” Pearson shared.
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Pearson will be the first actor with the condition to portray Merrick; the intriguing character has been played by actors like Bradley Cooper, David Bowie, and Mark Hamill on stage. The upcoming adaptation is being penned by Moby Pomerance, the son of the late Bernard Pomerance, who conceived the Tony Award-winning play. Bernard’s daughter, Eve Pomerance, expressed her excitement about Pearson’s casting:
“My father never wanted prosthetics to be used on stage as he felt it took the audience out of the story. He wanted them to empathise fully with Merrick, to see themselves in him. Lines like, ‘I am not an animal, I am a man’ which have become synonymous with the play, will take on greater meaning with Adam telling this story and enable the audience to finally stand in Merrick’s shoes. My father would be beyond excited to see his dream becoming a reality.”
A New Take on the Tragic Tale of ‘The Elephant Man’
In 1980, David Lynch’sThe Elephant Mandebuted, but that film was not adapted from the Tony Award-winning play, and instead was loosely based on the real life of Joseph Merrick. The black and white feature amassed critical acclaim and earned several award nominations, including eight Academy Award nods (Best Picture, Best Director for David Lynch, Best Actor for John Hurt, and more). It currently holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Lynch’s version is also being remade.
Merrick was born in 1862 and developed physical deformities (likely due to Proteus syndrome), which led to a difficult life and being exploited in freak shows. Merrick’s life improved after meeting Sir Frederick Treves, a surgeon with the London Hospital. Merrick began to flourish there, experiencing kindness and social interaction. He died at the age of 27 due to asphyxia related to his condition.
Pearson made his big screen debut in 2013’sUnder the Skin.He gained attention for last year’sA Different Man, which starred Sebastian Stan as Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes a procedure to change his appearance. After embarking on his new life, he finds out that his former neighbor has written a play about his life. He auditions and gets the role while concealing his identity, but the arrival of Pearson’s Oswald, who lives with the same condition but exudes confidence, leads to Edward unraveling. Written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, the film garnered critical praise and earned Stan a Golden Globe Award.
Pearson’s casting in this upcoming adaptation ofThe Elephant Manrepresents a significant moment in the representation of disability in film, and audiences should be excited to see an authentic and empathetic portrayal. Filming forThe Elephant Manis scheduled to begin next year.
Source:Variety
The Elephant Man
