Film 'Elsinore' Recreates Daniel Day-Lewis' 1989 Hamlet Walk-Off
The drama 'Elsinore,' debuting at Telluride, dramatizes the 1989 incident when Daniel Day-Lewis left a National Theatre production of Hamlet and follows the story of Scottish actor Ian Charelson, who was later cast as his replacement.
Andrew Scott's performance in the new drama "Elsinore" opened at the Telluride Film Festival, where the film revisits the 1989 incident in which Daniel Day-Lewis abruptly exited a National Theatre staging of "Hamlet." The narrative is set during a scene in which Hamlet confronts his father's ghost, and an actor portraying Hamlet freezes and walks off stage, prompting a house manager to comment, "That's not supposed to happen," as the event unfolds on CCTV.
The film portrays the aftermath of the walk-off, including the discovery of Day-Lewis' name on a dressing-room placard, and uses the episode to frame the true story of Scottish actor Ian Charelson. Charelson, who had previously appeared in "Chariots of Fire," was offered the role of Hamlet after Day-Lewis' departure but was battling end-stage AIDS. He performed the part to critical acclaim before dying seven weeks later. Producer Gabrielle Tana said the opportunity was "the dream come true" for Charelson, describing it as a moment of "carpe diem" that allowed him to fulfill a long-held ambition.
The filmmakers consulted Day-Lewis' representatives and screened a rough cut for them before the festival premiere. "Elsinore" is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on November 20 by Focus Features.