April 10 (UPI) — Hamlet, a new film starring Riz Ahmed, is the latest movie to reimagine William Shakespeare’s works in a modern setting.
Based on Shakespeare’s tragedy about a prince seeking revenge for his father’s murder, this Hamlet stars Ahmed (The Night Of, Sound of Metal) as the title character, a man navigating the elite South Asian community in contemporary London.
Other cast members include Art Malik as Claudius, Morfydd Clark as Ophelia, Joe Alwyn as Laertes, Sheeba Chaddha as Gertrude, Timothy Spall as Polonius and Avijit Dutt as Hamlet’s father.
Aneil Karia directs the new Hamlet, which opens in theaters Friday. Here is a list of eight other movies that adapt Shakespeare in modern times.
‘Anyone but You’
The 2023 romantic comedy is based on Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s comedy about a couple who try to trick another pair into falling in love with each other.
Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus) and Glen Powell (Hit Man) star as Bea and Ben, a pair who reunite for Bea’s sister’s wedding months after their first date ended on a sour note.
Hadley Robinson and Alexandra Shipp also star as Bea’s sister, Halle, and her fiancée, Claudia, with GaTa as Ben’s best friend Pete.
Anyone but You is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
‘She’s the Man’
The 2006 romantic comedy is inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a comedy about a love triangle involving Viola, a young woman who disguises herself as a male page after a shipwreck.
She’s the Man reimagines the story to star Amanda Bynes as Viola, a high school soccer star who pretends to be her twin brother, Sebastian (James Kirk), and attends boarding school in his place in order to play.
The cast also includes Channing Tatum as Duke Orsino and Laura Ramsey as Olivia.
She’s the Man is available to rent on streaming platforms.
‘Scotland, PA’
The 2001 dark comedy is based on Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, which follows the title character’s violent and ambitious journey to becoming the King of Scotland.
Scotland, PA, sets the story in 1975 at Duncan’s Cafe, a restaurant in the small town of Scotland, Pa., and stars James Le Gros as Joe “Mac” McBeth, an unappreciated worker who dreams of turning the place into a profitable drive-thru.
Other cast members include Maura Tierney as the Lady Macbeth figure, Pat McBeth, Christopher Walken as Lieutenant McDuff and Kevin Corrigan as Anthony “Banko” Banconi.
The movie is available to stream on Prime Video.
‘O’
The 2001 thriller is inspired by Othello, Shakespeare’s tragedy about a Moorish general whose trusted soldier Iago manipulates him into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful.
O reimagines the story at an American high school where the Othello figure, Odin (Mekhi Phifer), is a star basketball player. Josh Harnett and Julia Stiles play the Iago and Desdemona characters, named Hugo and Desi in the movie.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Watchmen actor Tim Blake Nelson directed O, which is available to stream on Hulu, Paramount+ and Prime Video.
’10 Things I Hate About You’
The classic 1999 teen romantic comedy reimagines Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, a comedy about the courtship between Petruchio and Katherina, a headstrong young woman with a sought-after younger sister, Bianca.
The cast includes Julia Stiles as Kat, Larisa Oleynik as Bianca, Heath Ledger as Patrick (Petruchio), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron, a new student with a crush on Bianca.
10 Things I Hate About You maintains a cult following and is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
‘Romeo + Juliet’
The 1996 romantic drama from Moulin Rouge! director Baz Luhrmann adapts Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s tragedy about star-crossed young lovers from feuding families.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes star as Romeo and Juliet, members of rival families living in the fictional Verona Beach in the 1990s. Other cast members include John Leguizamo as Tybalt and Harold Perrineau as Mercutio.
Romeo + Juliet is available to rent on streaming platforms.
‘My Own Private Idaho’
The 1991 road trip comedy-drama from Gus Van Sant is inspired by Shakespeare’s plays Henry IV, Part 1 and 2, along with Henry V. Those works imagine the life of Prince Hal, the future King of England known as Henry V.
Late actor River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star as Mike and Scott, best friends who travel from Portland, Ore., to Mike’s Idaho hometown in search of his mother. The journey eventually takes the pair to Rome.
Other cast members include James Russo, William Richert, Rodney Harvey, Michael Parker and Red Hot Chili Peppers musician Flea.
My Own Private Idaho is available to rent on streaming platforms.
‘West Side Story’
Also inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the 1961 film adapts the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name featuring music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Set in 1950s New York City, Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer star as Maria and Tony, two young lovers from rival street gangs known as the Sharks and the Jets.
The Oscar-winning film also stars Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris, and is available to stream on YouTube, the Roku Channel and Tubi. A remake directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort was released in 2021.
