Adam Pearson, the actor who appeared in the American black comedy named to the Oscars “A Different Man”, will play in the new film adaptation of the play by Bernard Pomerance (1977) awarded Tony Awards« Elephant Man ».
The 40 -year -old actor will embody Joseph Merrickthe English artist born with physical malformations and which has become a real fair phenomenon, in a film written by Moby Pomerance, the son of Bernard Pomerance. The shooting should start in the spring of 2026, with Eve Pomerance the sister of Moby and daughter of the playwright, as a producer of the adaptation.
The British actor disfigured by a neurofibromatosisa disease that is characterized by the appearance of neuro-cutaneous tumors and growths, is the first disabled actor to play the role of Joseph Merrick on the screen.
“Joseph Merrick is a man with whom I maintain a long and complex relationship. From the use of his name as a term of derision to the discovery of the man himself in the documentaries that I presented, it was a cathartic journey which allowed me to learn to love and to respect a man to whom, child, I even avoided thinking, “said Adam Pearson in a press release.
“I cannot imagine greater honor”
“Today, as a defender of the rights of people with disabilities and actor, I cannot imagine greater honor (and yet heavy responsibility) than telling the true story of Joseph Carey Merrick,” he added.
The role of Joseph Merrick has already been interpreted on stage by big names like David Bowie, Mark Hamill or Bradley Cooper, on stage. In 1980, John Hurt interpreted him in a memorable way in the film of David Lynch Named for no less than eight Oscars, without winning.
Eve Pomerance said that Adam Pearson would give even more meaning to history and allow viewers to “put themselves in the place of Merrick”. “” My father never wanted prostheses to be used on stage, because he had the feeling that it was moving away the public from history. He wanted him to experience a deep empathy for Merrick, that he recognizes himself in him. (…) My father would be more than happy to see his dream come true, ”she concluded.
