Adele to Make Acting Debut in Tom Ford’s Cry to Heaven
Adele is stepping into a new spotlight. The British singer-songwriter, best known for her chart-topping albums and powerhouse vocals, will make her acting debut in Cry to Heaven, a forthcoming film directed by Tom Ford. The project marks Adele’s first appearance in a feature film and her most significant creative departure since the release of her 2021 album, 30.
The announcement was made earlier today, confirming that filming will begin in London in January 2026. The movie is based on Anne Rice’s 1982 novel of the same name, a dark, operatic story set in 18th-century Italy that explores ambition, art, and vengeance through the intertwined lives of two male soprano singers. The adaptation will also star Colin Firth, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and newcomer Owen Cooper, among others. The film is scheduled for release in late 2026.
Though Adele has never acted in a major film before, her only on-screen appearance was a cameo as herself in a 2009 episode of Ugly Betty, her dramatic sensibility and storytelling instincts have long carried cinematic weight. Her songs, often built around themes of heartbreak, nostalgia, and resilience, already read like miniature screenplays.
That emotional intensity makes her an intriguing choice for a film like Cry to Heaven, which delves deep into the obsession and artistry of the Baroque opera world. The novel follows Tonio Treschi, a Venetian nobleman who is betrayed, mutilated, and reborn as a famed castrato singer. The narrative unfolds across lavish theaters, royal courts, and shadowy backstreets, a setting Ford seems poised to reinterpret with his signature visual flair.
No word yet on Adele’s role in the production. Given her background, speculation has already begun that she may portray one of the opera’s patrons or a central muse, though some insiders believe Ford could even create an original character to accommodate her natural presence and voice.
For Tom Ford, Cry to Heaven represents a long-awaited return to directing. The designer-turned-filmmaker made a striking debut with A Single Man (2009), followed by Nocturnal Animals (2016), both of which were praised for their sleek visual language and emotional restraint. Ford is said to be self-financing this new film, giving him complete creative control, a move possible after the 2022 sale of his eponymous fashion label to Estée Lauder, a deal that officially made him a billionaire.
His decision to adapt Anne Rice’s historical novel is an ambitious one: the material is vivid and unsettling, intertwining beauty and brutality. With Adele onboard, Ford seems intent on pairing lush visuals with the kind of emotional gravity her performances have always carried.
Adele’s move into acting follows a quiet period after her 30 era, which included a record-setting Las Vegas residency that wrapped in 2024. Since then, she has largely stayed out of the public eye, with no confirmed new music projects in the works. Her decision to pivot toward film signals a new creative direction.
Fans have already begun to wonder whether she might lend her voice to the Cry to Heaven soundtrack. After all, Adele’s Skyfall theme for the 2012 James Bond film earned her both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. While Ford and the studio have declined to comment on the possibility, the combination seems almost inevitable. A sweeping period drama by Tom Ford, scored or sung by Adele, feels like a natural extension of her artistry.
The film’s production will reportedly employ a mix of historic Italian locations and London soundstages, suggesting Ford’s characteristic attention to design and atmosphere.
As for what comes next, Adele’s fans may have to wait longer for a new album, but Cry to Heaven could mark the beginning of a new creative era. Whether she sings, acts, or does both, her presence on screen will undoubtedly carry the same depth and vulnerability that has defined her music.
Cry to Heaven is expected to premiere in theaters worldwide in late 2026, marking Adele’s first major acting role and Tom Ford’s return to filmmaking after nearly a decade.
