Elsinore

Elsinore is a feature drama film directed by Simon Stone and distributed by Focus Features. The movie recounts the true story of British stage and screen actor Ian Charleson, who took over the lead role in Shakespeare's Hamlet at London's National Theatre in late 1989 while battling AIDS-related complications, just months before his death in early 1990.

Acclaimed actor Andrew Scott stars in the central role as Charleson. Scott brought personal experience to the production, having previously led an acclaimed West End run of Hamlet in 2017, allowing him to authentically capture the brutal physical grind of an eight-show weekly theatrical schedule alongside the character's emotional journey.

The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2026, where it sparked immediate Oscar buzz and positive critical reactions. Reports noted that director Simon Stone built the film around Scott's central performance to craft an emotional tribute to classical theater life.