Riz Ahmed is heading over to Netflix for his next project. The Night Of and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story star is in talks with Netflix for a contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet, with Deadline reporting that the Emmy-winning actor will take on the title role, with the film written by Mike Lesslie (Macbeth, Assassin’s Creed).
The film will take place in modern-day London amid “economic and political uncertainty, following the intersecting themes of familial honor, moral duty and dynastic corruption”. Ahmed said on Twitter that he has “been developing this for years. Glad to have found a the right home for it.” Netflix will finance and distribute the film, though its not known yet if it will get a theatrical run.
Shakespeare’s original play saw Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, plotting to avenge the death of his father against his uncle, Claudius. Claudius had murdered Hamlet’s father to seize the throne and marry Hamlet’s mother. It is Shakespeare’s longest play and one of his most famous, having been adapted so many times through various media over the centuries.
While we wait for more news on Hamlet, Ahmed will be seen next in The Sisters Brothers alongside Joaquin Phoenix and his Nightcrawler co-star Jake Gyllenhaal, and is also set to appear in Sony’s Venom movie.
Originally published October 18, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
