First set pic from Julie Taymor's "The Tempest"

I could not be anymore excited for Julie Taymor's adaptation of the Bard's magic-infused comedy. Okay...that's a lie. I'll probably be more excited once I read the play (thanks, Shakespearean Exclusions gen-ed class!). Out of her three previous directorial efforts, Taymor has made two phenomenal films, 2002's Oscar-winning Frida, and 1999's Titus, based on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. Through stunning examination of historical context and the text itself, Taymor turned what many consider Shakespeare's worst (or at least most unsophisticated) play, and made an enthralling, dynamic piece of work, combining sets and costumes from different eras seamlessly. Here's hoping that Taymor's second go-round with Shakespeare will be more like her first two features, and less like the beautiful-yet-sometimes-trudging Across the Universe (2007). In the photo you'll see comedian Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, and Djimon Honsou, each in distinct outfits (or lacktherof). Now that Taymor's films tend to gain a hint more of an audience, and her impact on Broadway has been felt, could this be a major contender for 2010's Oscar race? Or will it go the dreaded way of Bright Star? Here's hoping for the former.