Adam Pearson To Lead New “Elephant Man”

Adam Pearson (“A Different Man,” “Under the Skin”) will play the lead role of Joseph Merrick in a new film adaptation of Bernard Pomerance’s Tony-winning play “The Elephant Man”.

Moby Pomerance penned the script for this adaptation and filming begins Spring 2026. The play’s story is itself an adaptation of the diaries of Dr. Frederick Treves, Merrick’s physician, and covers their time together at London Hospital in Whitechapel.

Merrick was known for his severe physical deformities, suspected (but not proven) to be the result of Proteus syndrome, and overcame much hardship to become a bit of a celebrity in Victorian London society. He was known for his artistic works and intricate models of buildings.

The Tony-winning play originally ran from 1979-1981 with revivals in 2002 and 2014. David Schofield played him first while people like Bradley Cooper, Bruce Davison, Mark Hamill, Philip Anglim and music icon David Bowie have taken on the role on stage.

David Lynch helmed a 1980 Oscar-nominated feature based on Merrick’s life, also titled “The Elephant Man” and starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins, but that film has no direct relation to the play beyond a lawsuit by the play’s producers against the film’s producers for use of the same title.

Pesrson, who has neurofibromatosis type I, will become the first disabled actor to play Joseph Merrick on screen. Stephen Nemeth and Eve Pomerance will produce the film.

Source: Variety

The post Adam Pearson To Lead New “Elephant Man” appeared first on Dark Horizons.