William Shakespeare adaptations are a dime a dozen, but there aren’t so many that can be called bold and culturally dynamic. Hamlet — the newest adaptation of the famous play starring Riz Ahmed in the title role, and hailing from director Aneil Karia and screenwriter Michael Lesslie — is both. The film is a contemporary retelling of the work, but the dialogue maintains its original Shakespearean language.
In this adaptation, Hamlet comes from new money. The son of a wealthy company head, Hamlet returns to London following his father’s death. At the funeral, Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius (Art Malik), reveals he’s marrying Gertrude (Sheeba Chaddha), Hamlet’s mother. It’s the first of many shocking moments that Hamlet must endure. After his father’s ghost reveals he was murdered by Claudius