#elsinore

Focus Features has acquired Elsinore, which features our Luke Thompson, and is looking to be released this fall with one of the major film festivals for a premiere. All 4 are interested and circling it to premiere it there.

Look for it to be released at Venice, Telluride, Toronto or New York during one of their festivals to kick off an awards season run.

Venice Film Festival: Sept 2nd-12th

Telluride Film Festival: September 4th-7th

Toronto Film Festival: September 10th-20th

New York Film Festival: September 25th- October 12th

Andrew Scott is getting lots of Oscar buzz for his portrayal as Ian Charleson in the biopic.

News: Halfway To Oscars 2027: ‘Project Hail Mary,’ ‘La Bola Negra, ‘Digger’ & The Andrew Scott Surprise - The Playlist // June 1, 2026

Tweet from The Playlist:

Article Highlights:

Six weeks ago, following a slightly demure Cannes, the 2027 Oscar season seemed set. Studio films would likely dominate, and there were few festival surprises on tap. How silly. There are always surprises. And the past few weeks have delivered some big ones. Well, at least that industry is aware of.

But that’s not the only surprise entry into the mix. May we focus your attention on Simon Stone’s “Elisnore.” The Studio Canal-financed drama follows the final years of famed British actor Ian Charleson (Andrew Scott), who starred in “Chariots of Fire,” but is known for his landmark turn in a stage production of “Hamlet,” which he performed suffering major complications from AIDS in the fall of 1989 (a production directed by the Richard Eyre who eventually helmed “Notes on a Scandal” and “Iris”).

This is also a movie that, like “Artificial,” has gotten into every festival it has screened for. And, we don’t want to overhype it, but to a person, every studio that has seen it has said Andrew Scott is winning Best Actor. Not getting nominated. Not in the race. He’s winning. As one exec told me, it was similar to watching Rene Zellwegger in early screenings of “Judy.” You just knew.

Full article:

Italy gets Elsinore on Christmas?!?! USA gets an Andrew movie on Christmas too - A Place in Hell - which of course I’ll be sat for, but Elsinore? I am simply buzzing over.

Film: A roundup of Elsinore (2027)/Ian Charleson information.

Ian Charleson as Hamlet:

For Ian Charleson, A Tribute - A collectors’ item, but you can borrow it free in PDF format!

Borrow the PDF from the Internet Archive (free):

Ian Charleston’s gravesite:

Includes Hamlet quotes.

Wonderful Article from the Edinburgh Inquirer

He delivered 'the greatest ever Hamlet', then eight weeks later died

How Edinburgh actor Ian Charleson triumphed on stage and helped change public attitudes to HIV

Highlight:

It was 13 November, 1989, and the acclaimed Edinburgh-born actor Ian Charleson had given the stage performance of his all-too-brief life, cut short by AIDs as late-stage HIV was then known. His Hamlet, inside the biggest theatre within the brutalist National Theatre complex on London’s South Bank, is widely regarded as the greatest ever. Those who were part of the full house which bore witness recalled the biggest standing ovation they had ever seen for a classical performance.

What the audience did not know at that time was that the play happened in the most extraordinary circumstances, a story so compelling that it is now to be made into a movie.

The perfect Hamlet

Andrew Scott is to portray Ian Charleson in a new film about the life of the celebrated Edinburgh actor. Elsinore will focus on his preparations and performance of Hamlet and he will be joined by Olivia Colman in the Canal+ production, described as a “deeply moving and inspiring true story”.

Full article (beautiful):

Sandy-haired Ian compared to a sandy-haired Andrew during the months of filming Elsinore.

Some press snippets for Elsinore (2027):