Riz Ahmed Steps into Shakespeare With a Modern London Take on HAMLET
Universal UK has released the first official trailer for a new reimagining of Hamlet, and this one takes the classic tragedy into very different territory. Set within a British South Asian family in present-day London, the film puts revenge, grief, and family loyalty under a modern microscope while keeping Shakespeare’s original language intact.
The film stars Riz Ahmed as Hamlet, marking a long-anticipated moment for the actor. Directed by Aneil Karia, this adaptation sparked plenty of debate on its film festival run. Some viewers found it gripping, interesting, and emotionally raw, while others struggled with its heavy intensity and unconventional pacing.
TIFF offered insight into what sets this version apart, explaining, “The setting and cultural placement reveal how powerfully the play speaks to issues around identity, intergenerational tensions, contemporary struggles over duty, faith, and belonging.
“Shakespeare's words remain — but what’s changed is the ground beneath them. And that shift is everything.” The festival also highlighted Ahmed’s involvement, noting that his “long-standing dream to take on this role, in partnership with Karia, results in a performance that feels both deeply classical and bracingly new.”
In this retelling, Hamlet follows Ahmed’s troubled prince as he returns home for his father’s funeral, only to be blindsided when his uncle Claudius quickly marries his grieving mother.
When the ghost of his father reveals the truth behind his death, Hamlet spirals into obsession and fury, pushing himself toward violent extremes while questioning his place in the family and his own grip on reality.
The cast around Ahmed includes Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Timothy Spall, Art Malik, Sheeba Chaddha, and Avijitt Dutt .
Karia directs from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie, adapted from Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Universal UK plans to release Hamlet in theaters on February 6th, 2026. A US release date hasn’t been announced yet.