Adam Pearson Will Play Joseph Merrick in New Adaptation of ‘The Elehpant Man’ from A24

In 1977, Bernard Pomerance wrote the play The Elephant Man, which became a massive hit. The play about the life of Joseph Merrick, a severely disfigured man whose life is still a fascinating mystery, became a massive hit and showed us just how we, as a society, can fail when it comes to those who are the most vulnerable.

The movie was adapted into a critically-acclaimed film by David Lynch in 1980, starring Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, but a new adaptation is on the way, which is sure to make many cinephiles happy.

Namely, A24 is working on a new adaptation of the boo,k and it has been confirmed who will be playing the role of Joseph Merrick in the upcoming movie.

Originally, the role was played by the late John Hurt, who was transformed into Merrick thanks to the costume and make-up department. The transformation was a stunning one and Hurt’s character is still one of the most memorable ones in the history of cinema.

And while the make-up and costume department of the new movie will definitely have a lot of work in the new adaptation, the producers have decided for a different approach when it comes to the main role in the movie.

Namely, we can confirm that Adam Pearson, who recently starred in the acclaimed project A Different Man, will portray Merrick in the movie, whose script will be written by Moby Pomerance, Bernard’s son.

“Joseph Merrick is a man I have a long and complex relationship with. From having his name used as a term of derision to learning about the man himself in documentaries I’ve presented. It’s been a cathartic journey of growing to love and respect a man who I as a child I avoided even thinking about. Now as a disability advocate and actor, I can think of no greater honour (yet heavy responsibility) than to tell the true story of Joseph Carey Merrick,” Peason said in a statement.

Filming is set to begin in spring 2026; a release window has not been confirmed at this time.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!