Taylor Swift dropped the debut music video from her new album The Tortured Poets Department with a few special cameos on Friday.
The cinematic Fortnight, prominently showcasing her song collaborator Post Malone, also features Hollywood actors Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles.
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Ethan and Josh shared the screen in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society, a clear homage to the title of Taylor’s 11th studio album.
In the stunning black-and-white music video, the actors play scientists conducting wild experiments on Taylor’s character following her failed love affair.
Taylor gave a shout-out to Ethan and Josh in an Instagram post detailing the video’s production, writing, ‘I’m still laughing from getting to work with the coolest guys on earth, @ethanhawke and @mrjoshcharles (tortured poets, meet your colleagues from down the hall, the dead poets).’
Ethan and Josh shared the screen in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society, a clear homage to the title of Taylor’s 11th studio album; Robin Williams top left, Ethan top far right, Josh bottom far right
She added: ‘When I was writing the Fortnight music video, I wanted to show you the worlds I saw in my head that served as the backdrop for making this music.
‘Pretty much everything in it is a metaphor or a reference to one corner of the album or another. For me, this video turned out to be the perfect visual representation of this record and the stories I tell in it.
‘@postmalone blew me away on set as our tortured tragic hero and I’m so grateful to him for everything he put into this collaboration.’
Josh also took to his Instagram with snaps from the production as well, writing, ‘I’ve admired Taylor for a long time, but meeting her in person took my fandom to a whole new level.
‘Genuine, kind, approachable, and just an all around stellar human being – Not to mention a kick ass director to boot! #TSTTPD’
Fans were quick to take to social media to share their excitement over the amazing cameos.
One wrote, ‘the dead poets society reference omg,’ as another posted ‘2 legends.’
Yet another summed it up by sharing, ‘ethan hawke and josh charles 2 of the og dead poets.’
Starring Robin Williams, Ethan, and Robert Sean Leonard, the film follows a group of students at an elite prep school in 1959 who are inspired by their unconventional English teacher to pursue their passions and seize the day.
It received four Academy Award nominations in 1990, including Best Picture and Best Director for Peter Weir.
Ahead of the album’s release, Taylor revealed Fortnight would be the lead single.
‘I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever,’ she wrote on Instagram at the time.
‘I got to witness that magic come to life firsthand when we worked together on Fortnight.’
In the span of two months since she unveiled The Tortured Poets Department at the Grammys and clinched her 13th career trophy, Swift has made remarkable strides.
That very evening, she secured her fourth Album of the Year GRAMMY, surpassing music legends Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Frank Sinatra, each with three wins, and etching her name in history.
She told the audience: ‘I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I have been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand-new album comes out April 19th.’
‘It’s called The Tortured Poet’s Department. I’m going to go and post the cover right now backstage.’
