Adele to make her acting debut with Tom Ford’s adaptation of Cry to Heaven

Cry to Heaven will be the third feature for Tom Ford, who made his directing debut with the romantic drama A Single Man in 2009.

Fashion designer Tom Ford has called up Adele to co-star in his adaptation of Anne Rice’s Cry to Heaven, his production company said Wednesday. The film, which Tom is writing, directing and producing, will mark the acting debut of the superstar singer.

Adele is one part of a large ensemble cast that also include Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper. (Instagram / @ adele)

Adele is just one part of a large ensemble cast that includes Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, George MacKay, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper and Hunter Schafer, though no details were immediately available about their specific roles.

Anne’s novel, first published in 1982, is set in the world of opera in 18th-century Italy and follows two characters from very different backgrounds: one born a peasant, the other a Venetian noble.

Cry to Heaven will be the third feature for Tom, who made his directing debut with the romantic drama A Single Man in 2009, followed by the psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals in 2016. The movie is currently in pre-production for a release in late fall 2026.

As with his previous features, Tom is financing Cry to Heaven himself. In 2016, he told The Associated Press: “I will only ever make a movie if I control the underlying rights.”