The story of William Shakespeare's Hamlet is well known – murder, madness, monologuing and more – but with Ophelia, director Claire McCarthy aims to show a different side of the tale. Check out the new trailer for the film, which stars Daisy Ridley.
Set in medieval Denmark and spoken in a modern tongue with a poetic twist, it recalibrates the classic Shakespearean tragedy so that its unspoken, complex heroine may share her own story. As a rebellious and motherless child, Ophelia (Ridley) is taken into Elsinore Castle by Queen Gertrude (Naomi Watts) as one of her most trusted ladies-in-waiting. Soon enough, Ophelia captures the affections of the young Prince Hamlet (George MacKay). A passionate romance kindles between the two in secret as the kingdom is on the brink of war amidst its own political intrigue and betrayal. When Hamlet’s father is murdered and the prince’s wits begin to unravel into an insatiable quest for vengeance, Ophelia sharply navigates the rules of power in Denmark all while struggling to choose between her true love and her own life...
With the likes of Clive Owen, Tom Felton, Daisy Head and Sebastian De Souza also in the cast, this looks to be an interesting take on a well-worn story, and a chance for the character to be seen in a new light.
Ophelia will arrive in US cinemas on 28 June, ahead of a 3 July VOD release. There are no details of a UK debut just yet, but we'll find out of it's to be or not to be.
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