Elsinore trailer: Andrew Scott plays Ian Charleson
Focus Features has released the Elsinore trailer featuring Andrew Scott as AIDS-afflicted Hamlet actor Ian Charleson in Simon Stone’s heartbreaking biographical drama. Written by Stephen Beresford, the film arrives in theaters on Nov. 20 after festival acclaim, including Toronto’s International People’s Choice Award.
Key Takeaways
- Focus Features dropped the trailer for Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott as Ian Charleson.
- Simon Stone directs the Stephen Beresford-scripted biographical drama, due in theaters Nov. 20.
- The story centers on Charleson’s National Theatre Hamlet while he faced AIDS complications.
- After Telluride and TIFF, the film won Toronto’s International People’s Choice Award.
- Variety critics call Scott’s work career-defining and awards-contender material.
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What is the Elsinore trailer about?
Per the official synopsis cited by Variety, Elsinore is the “deeply emotional and inspirational true story of Ian Charleson, a gifted actor whose greatest challenge becomes his greatest triumph.”
Facing mortality “with unflinching honesty, wit, and grace,” Charleson delivers a courageous performance that becomes “a source of healing and inspiration for those around him,” the synopsis says.
The Chariots of Fire star stepped into Hamlet at London’s National Theatre after Daniel Day-Lewis stopped mid-performance and left the production for good. Charleson earned rave reviews even as he was succumbing to AIDS complications, and he died seven weeks after bowing out.
When does Elsinore open in theaters?
Focus Features will release Elsinore in theaters on Nov. 20. The film first debuted at the Telluride Film Festival before playing the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, where it took the International People’s Choice Award.
That festival run puts the Andrew Scott vehicle on the awards-season calendar ahead of its theatrical bow, giving audiences a window to catch the trailer before opening weekend.
Why is Andrew Scott’s performance drawing awards buzz?
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman wrote that Scott makes the film “an indelible journey” and “gives an astonishingly layered and moving performance.” Awards editor Clayton Davis added that this is “the role of Scott’s career” and places him “toward the forefront of a best actor conversation he has been circling for years.”
Beyond Scott, the ensemble includes Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, David Dawson, Matthew Beard, Joe Locke, Monica Dolan, Georgie Glen, Sadie Soverall, Adeel Akhtar, Dickie Beau, Kadiff Kirwan, Juliet Stevenson, and Peter Mullan.
With the Elsinore trailer now public and a firm Nov. 20 theatrical date, the biographical drama is positioned as a fall release built around Scott’s portrayal of Charleson’s final, defining stage triumph.