Andrew Scott Plays AIDS-Afflicted Hamlet in 'Elsinore' Trailer — SkimNews
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- Focus Features released the trailer for "Elsinore," a biographical drama directed by Simon Stone and written by Stephen Beresford, slated for theatrical release on Nov. 20.
- Ian Charleson, the Scottish star of "Chariots of Fire," replaced Daniel Day-Lewis as Hamlet at London's National Theatre after Day-Lewis walked offstage mid-performance and never returned to the production.
- Charleson delivered his Hamlet while secretly suffering from AIDS complications and died seven weeks after bowing out, despite receiving rave reviews at the time.
- "Elsinore" debuted at the Telluride Film Festival before winning the International People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.
- Variety critics Owen Gleiberman and Clayton Davis both praised Scott's performance, with Davis calling it "the role of Scott's career" that places him "toward the forefront of a best actor conversation."
- The ensemble cast includes Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, David Dawson, Matthew Beard, Joe Locke, Monica Dolan, Peter Mullan, and Juliet Stevenson.
Why it matters: Andrew Scott, already a known awards contender, now has a TIFF International People's Choice Award winner anchoring his best actor push, with two Variety critics explicitly placing him in that conversation. The Nov. 20 theatrical release positions the film squarely in awards season, and the Charleson story — a gifted Shakespearean who died at 40 from AIDS after a heroic final performance — gives the project emotional gravity beyond a standard biopic.
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