Turin, Nov. 13. (LaPresse) – It has been almost ten years since Tom Ford last directed a film, but it seems that the director has now set his sights on a stellar cast for his next project: Deadline has reported that Ford has confirmed he will direct an adaptation of Anne Rice's novel Cry to Heaven, and the cast includes singer Adele, making her film debut. The screenplay was written by the director himself, who will also direct and produce the film with his company Fade To Black. Set in 18th-century Italy, the film also stars Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ciarán Hinds, George MacKay, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Owen Cooper, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Hunter Schafer, Josephine Thiesen, Thandiwe Newton, Theodore Pellerin, Daryl McCormack, Cassian Bilton, Hauk Hannemann, and Lux Pascal. According to Deadline, the film is currently in pre-production in London and Rome, with principal photography set to begin in mid-January and a release date scheduled for late fall 2026. Rice's original novel touches on themes of identity, betrayal, love, and the pursuit of artistic and personal freedom. Ford has previously explored these themes in both his film career and in the world of fashion. Ford had his eye on this project as his next film since last year, but wanted to make sure he had the right cast before setting a start date. As for financing, the director had spoken with several film studios, but ultimately decided to self-finance the film and shoot it on his own terms. The former creative director of Gucci and YSL sold his Tom Ford fashion label to Estée Lauder Companies for $2.8 billion in 2023. The film not only marks Adele's film debut, but also reunites Ford with several actors from previous films, including Taylor-Johnson, who starred in Nocturnal Animals, and Firth, who won the Coppa Volpi at the Venice Film Festival for his leading role in A Single Man.