HAMLET Turns Modern Day Thriller For Sir Ian McKellen’s Latest Shakespearean Reprisal In The Official Trailer
Kaleidoscope Film Distribution has acquired international rights to Hamlet, the newest adaptation of the Shakespearean classic starring Sir Ian McKellen. The award-winning actor leads the brimming new thriller, returning to the character having portrayed the title role on stage as recently as 2021 for the Theater Royal, Windsor among other performances.
McKellen reprises his lead role as Hamlet, a man who descends into madness as he seeks vengeance against his uncle for the alleged murder of his father. A tale of revenge that has stood the test of time, Shakespeare’s classic tragedy is reimagined for the modern day as a gripping psychological thriller.
Transcending the confines of the stage, the film utilises nearly every room of the Theatre Royal Windsor to transform it into the immortal Elsinore Castle, from basement dungeon to roof-top battlements. McKellen co-stars with the recent critically-acclaimed stage cast from Windsor’s production of Hamlet, including Frances Barber (King Lear, Chekhov’s The Seagull) Jonathan Hyde (King Lear, Titanic, Crimson Peak), Jenny Seagrove (Local Hero, Woman of Substance), Steven Berkoff (Vikings, A Clockwork Orange) and BAFTA-winner Francesca Annis (Jane Eyre, Wives and Daughters).
Hamlet is directed by Sean Mathias (Bent) and hails from BK Studios (The Critic, The Shepherd), and is produced by the late Bill Kenwright (Cheri, Broken), and exec produced by David Gilbery (The Lost Daughter) and Naomi George (My Pure Land).
Kaleidoscope will release theatrically in the UK in early 2024. The deal was inked by KFD CEO, Spencer Pollard with BK Studios CEO, David Gilbery.
Pollard says, “We are very honoured and proud to bring to UK screens and international buyers a film with this prestige. A moving re-telling of one of Shakespeare’s most important pieces of work, we feel there will be many great homes for the film across the globe and look forward to sharing it with buyers in LA next week.”
Gilbery says, “We’re incredibly excited for audiences to experience Sean Mathias’ unique and contemporary film adaptation of Shakespeare’s magnificent tragedy. Ian McKellen reprises his famous title role, alongside a superb ensemble of British stars from the stage and screen. The beauty of this adaptation is that at its core, it’s a real fast-paced classic revenge thriller.”
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