You read that correctly. Not only is Tom Ford finally getting behind the camera again after a near-10-year hiatus, but he's also bringing Adele into the cinematic fold. The American fashion designer and creative director will be working on a film adaptation of Anne Rice's book Cry to Heaven, and has cast the British singer in a leading role. It's set to start production in January 2026.
Tom Ford is of course no stranger to film making. His two previous feature film works, A Single Man and Nocturnal Animals, both received wide spread critical acclaim – including an Oscar nominations for A Single Man in particular. So, what can we expect from this new project? Here's everything we know so far.
Adele has been cast – but who will join her?
Naturally, the film has attracted one of the most star-studded casts in recent history, including several actors Ford has worked with before. Joining Adele (did someone say EGOT?) is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Colin Firth, Nicholas Hoult, Adolescence star Owen Cooper, Ciarán Hinds, George MacKay, Mark Strong, Paul Bettany, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Hunter Schafer, Josephine Thiesen, Thandiwe Newton, Theodore Pellerin, Daryl McCormack, Cassian Bilton, Hauk Hannemann, and Lux Pascal. Phew!
What's Cry to Heaven about?
Cry to Heaven will be a filmic adaptation of Anne Rice's novel of the same name. It follows the story of two musical minds living and working in eighteenth century Italy. One is a Venetian noble, Tonio, the other a Calabrian peasant, Guido; their love of music and opera sees these two unlikely collaborators cross paths. Tonio has been castrated by his vengeful brother in order to preserve his soprano voice, and Guido eventually becomes his teacher. Together, they travel across Italy and set attempt to navigate the dark side of the society they were born to.
Many will recognise Anne Rice's name from her most famous works, The Vampire Chronicles. While Cry to Heaven is a divergence from her popular mystique and occult plot lines, it is thematically similar to her other works in the way it explores good vs evil, existentialism, morality and period-based settings.
Tom Ford said film making is his new career
When Tom Ford retired from fashion in 2023, he told GQ that film making was going to be the future of his career.
Ford said: “I want to spend the next 20 years of my life making films.”
“And the clock is ticking. And so it was time to say goodbye to fashion. Fashion is a younger man’s game.”
It seems that Ford is making good on this promise. Rumours suggest that Ford may actually have a second project in the works, although the name of this one has yet to be released.
