Any material based on a Shakespearean classic already has a tall order to fulfill. Upcoming movie, Ophelia, takes on the challenge by bringing in a full force of female power: Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts will lead the cast, Claire McCarthy will direct, Semi Chellas will write and it's all based on Sarah Klein's 2006 retelling of Hamlet.
Shakespeare is a tragic writer and Hamlet secures a spot in his most iconic works. It's a deadly story that The Hollywood Reporter even writes, "more characters die in it than in a season's worth of Game of Thrones." But this movie is strikingly different. In its official synopsis published by the Collider, the film promises to offer a "pulse-grabbing insight" that would not center on Prince Hamlet but on one of the story's heroines, Ophelia.
Ophelia is the daughter of the chief counselor of King Claudius and a favorite of Queen Gertrude, uncle and mother of Prince Hamlet respectively. Hamlet and Ophelia meet each other and develop an against-all-odds kind of romance amidst a world that revolves around love, betrayal and murder.
"Ophelia is brimming with youth-fueled charisma, exploring the nature of true love and beauty, and I'm so excited to bring this fresh mythic spin to Hamlet from a female perspective," Director Claire McCarthy said as reported by Collider.
Veteran actress Naomi Watts would take on the role of Queen Gertrude while Ophelia would be played by the in-demand Star Wars breakthrough actress, Daisy Ridley. Deadline enumerates the many projects in line for the young star that includes a Holocaust-centered film and a fantasy offering produced by J.J. Abrams. Watts, on the other hand, has a movie with Brie Larson and a Netflix series in the making.
There are still no other cast members confirmed aside from Naomi Watts and Daisy Ridley. The release date has also not yet been announced but with the plot itself unfolding, this project is already looking great.
Do you think Naomi Watts and Daisy Ridley would give justice to Ophelia and Queen Gertrude? Share your views with us on the Comments section below!
