Adele is reportedly stepping back into the studio for the first time in five years, as she prepares to make her highly anticipated acting debut in an upcoming Hollywood film.
The singer, whose last album 30 was released in 2021 to widespread critical acclaim, has largely stayed out of the spotlight since wrapping up her Las Vegas residency in November 2024.
Now, however, new reports suggest she is preparing for a major return — both musically and on screen.
Adele is set to star in Cry To Heaven, a new film from fashion designer-turned-director Tom Ford, marking her first-ever acting role.
The project, which is currently in pre-production across London and Rome, is an adaptation of Anne Rice’s 1982 novel of the same name.
Set in 18th century Italy, the story explores the lives of castrated opera singers — known as castrati — and rival aristocrats, centring on the intense and often brutal world of classical music and power.
According to reports, the narrative follows a Venetian nobleman and a maestro castrato as they attempt to succeed in the highly competitive opera scene.
Tom Ford, fashion mogul turned filmmaker, has picked a star-studded cast for his third film
Ford, best known for directing A Single Man and Nocturnal Animals, has also written the screenplay and assembled a high-profile cast for the film.
Alongside Adele, the line-up includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicholas Hoult, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Thandiwe Newton, Hunter Schafer, Owen Cooper, and Irish actors Ciarán Hinds and Daryl McCormack.
Filming is expected to begin in mid-January, with an Autumn 2026 release currently planned.
Adele’s involvement in the film is also expected to extend beyond acting, with reports suggesting she will record new music to accompany the project — marking her first release since 30.
The film’s strong ties to the opera world are believed to have influenced the decision to bring her on board.
A source told The Sun: “The movie is steeped in the opera world, so naturally, they wanted the world’s most famous singer involved.”
The move signals a significant new chapter in Adele’s career, as she transitions into acting while simultaneously returning to music. It also builds on her previous success in film, having won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Skyfall, the theme to the 2012 James Bond film.
While details about her role in Cry To Heaven remain under wraps, the project represents one of the most high-profile acting debuts by a music artist in recent years — and suggests Adele is preparing for a major comeback across multiple fronts.
