‘Hamlet’ trailer: Riz Ahmed is vengeance-seeking prince, unravels high-society crime empire in gritty Shakespearean remake - WATCH

Riz Ahmed steps into one of Shakespeare’s most famous roles in the new trailer for ‘Hamlet,’ a modern adaptation set in London’s elite South Asian community. The film will open in theaters on April 10. Vertical released the first trailer, offering a tense look at Ahmed as a grieving son who uncovers betrayal within his own family.According to Deadline, the contemporary retelling reimagines William Shakespeare’s tragedy through a sharp modern lens. The film premiered at TIFF in August and now heads to a wider theatrical release.Directed by Aneil Karia and written by Michael Lesslie, ‘Hamlet’ follows a young man who returns home for his father’s funeral. Ahmed plays the title role. When Hamlet arrives, he learns that his uncle Claudius, played by Art Malik, is marrying his newly widowed mother Gertrude, portrayed by Sheeba Chaddha.The trailer builds tension quickly. During a visit from his father’s ghost, played by Avijit Dutt, Hamlet discovers that Claudius was behind the murder. That revelation sets him on a path of revenge and deep inner conflict.“My uncle is the cause of all this,” Ahmed’s Hamlet says in the trailer. “There is a villain dwelling in our home here.”The film shifts the royal court drama into the world of power and privilege within London’s South Asian elite, grounding the story in a modern setting while keeping the core themes of betrayal, grief, and justice.Ahmed anchors a cast that includes Morfydd Clark as Ophelia, Joe Alwyn as Laertes, and Timothy Spall as Polonius. The story stays true to the central arc of Shakespeare’s play, focusing on a son wrestling with loss, anger, and moral doubt.The release of ‘Hamlet’ comes as the Shakespeare-inspired ‘Hamnet’ heads toward the 2026 Oscars with a Best Picture nomination. Now, this new adaptation brings fresh energy to a centuries-old story.With a powerful lead performance and a bold modern setting, ‘Hamlet’ aims to introduce the classic tragedy to a new generation of moviegoers when it arrives in theaters on April 10.