Riz Ahmed and Timothy Spall’s “magnetic” update of a “masterpiece” gets intense first trailer

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A new trailer has been released for Riz Ahmed‘s take on Hamlet, which will come out next year. The film, directed by Aneil Karia, offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s classic play, focusing on a British South Asian family.

This contemporary adaptation of Hamlet features Ahmed as the Prince of Denmark, who travels to London for his father’s funeral. He’s stunned to discover that his uncle, Claudius, intends to marry his mother so soon after his father’s death.

The story follows Hamlet, who is haunted by his father’s ghost. The ghost reveals he was murdered by Claudius, and this drives Hamlet to seek revenge. Consumed by anger, Hamlet goes to extreme lengths to avenge his father, leading him to question his own sanity and place within the royal family.

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The new trailer on YouTube hints at a dark and intense take on the classic story of Hamlet. It shows him wrestling with feelings of distrust and guilt while caught in a ruthless power struggle.

“My uncle is the cause of all this,” he declares. “There is a villain dwelling in our home here.”

The trailer shows scenes from a beautiful, traditional Asian wedding happening while Claudius takes control of his brother’s empire. The colorful wedding scenes and outfits stand out against the formal, classic language used in the film.

In addition to starring in the film, Ahmed is also a producer, working with James Wilson, Allie Moore, Tommy Oliver, and Michael Lesslie, who also wrote the script.

Timothy Spall, Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Sheeba Chadha, Avijit Dutt, and Art Malik also star alongside Ahmed in the film.

The film is scheduled to hit theaters on February 6, 2026, and currently has a 78% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 27 reviews. IndieWire praised director Karia’s skillful adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play into a contemporary tragedy.

Awards Buzz called the production of Hamlet “magnetic,” highlighting a “universally excellent” cast led by Ahmed, whose performance was described as a powerfully tormented one that skillfully blended intense emotion with humor.

As a fan, I was so excited to see what everyone thought of this adaptation, and Screen Rant really nailed it! They called it “bold and culturally dynamic,” which sounds amazing, and said the story is super intense and dramatic – full of tension and raw emotion. It sounds like exactly what I hoped for!

Hamlet will be released in cinemas on 6 February 2026.

As a total TV fan, I’m so excited about the Good Housekeeping Christmas TV Guide! It’s got listings for a full 14 days of festive shows, and it sounds like everything you need to make the most of Christmas on TV. I just picked one up for only £4.75 at Morrisons – you can find it at TG Jones and other magazine shops too!

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2025-12-20 02:19