NewKerala.com

Riz Ahmed Relates to Hamlet's Outsider Role in Modern London Adaptation

British actor and rapper Riz Ahmed stars in Aneil Karia's modern adaptation of Hamlet, set in contemporary, multicultural London. Ahmed connects deeply with the Danish prince's sense of being an outsider, a feeling he experienced growing up. The film reimagines iconic scenes, like delivering the "To be or not to be" soliloquy on a high-speed highway. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is set for theatrical release on April 10.

Key Points: Riz Ahmed on Hamlet, Outsider Feeling in Modern Adaptation

  • Modern multicultural London setting
  • "To be or not to be" on a highway
  • Ahmed relates to outsider theme
  • Film as an "empathy engine"
  • Premiered at TIFF 2025
2 min read

Riz Ahmed sees himself in modern 'Hamlet' adaptation

Riz Ahmed stars in a modern Hamlet set in multicultural London, relating to the prince's outsider status. Premieres April 10.

"I found a character... that just feels as much of an outsider as I did - Riz Ahmed"

London, April 8

British actor and rapper Riz Ahmed has opened up about his connection with William Shakespeare's Hamlet as he takes the titular role in Aneil Karia's new modern adaptation of the classic tragedy. Ahmed, 43, says he relates to the Danish prince's sense of being an outsider, a feeling he experienced growing up, according to People.

"I had a really inspirational English teacher who gave it to me," Ahmed told People, recalling how he discovered the play. "I found a character, the heart of this play, that just feels as much of an outsider as I did at that time... and as much of an outsider as I think many of us feel right now."

Karia and screenwriter Michael Lesslie reimagine Hamlet in modern-day, multicultural London. In a striking reinterpretation, Ahmed delivers the iconic "To be or not to be" soliloquy while driving on a high-speed highway, blending Shakespeare's text with contemporary settings.

Acknowledging that Shakespeare can feel inaccessible to some, Ahmed said, "It doesn't belong to me and I don't belong in it and it's just a bit stuffy and alien." He emphasized that film is "an empathy engine," offering audiences a way to see themselves in stories from any era.

Ahmed, who also serves as producer on the project, explained the importance of grounding the play in a modern context. "In order to keep this canonical, British text alive... we have to pass the baton in terms of where it's set. Only then can it actually feel grounded and real," according to People

The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and will release in theaters Friday, April 10. Hamlet also stars Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Sheeba Chaddha, Avijit Dutt, Art Malik, and Timothy Spall, according to People

Ahmed continues to lead projects such as the British limited series Bait, streaming on Prime Video, and Alejandro G. Inarritu's Digger with Tom Cruise, releasing in theaters on October 2.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Riz Ahmed is such a talented actor. It's great to see someone of Pakistani heritage taking on such a classic British role. Representation matters, and his perspective on feeling like an outsider will definitely add depth to Hamlet.
S
Siddharth J
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Sometimes these modern adaptations lose the essence of the original text. I hope they don't sacrifice Shakespeare's poetry just for the sake of being "contemporary." But I'll give it a chance.
A
Ananya R
The cast looks amazing with Sheeba Chaddha and Art Malik! Always proud to see Indian actors in global projects. Riz's point about film being an "empathy engine" is so true. Stories connect us across time and cultures.
V
Vikram M
This is why we need diverse storytellers. A traditional Hamlet production might not speak to younger audiences today. Updating the setting while keeping the core themes is the way to keep classics alive. Well done!
M
Michael C
Interesting approach. As someone who found Shakespeare difficult in school, I appreciate efforts to make it more relatable. The outsider theme is universal - felt it myself moving countries for work.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50