Ian McKellen, Gabriel Byrne to star in 'Hamlet Revenant'

Actors Ian McKellen, Gabriel Byrne and Connie Nielsen will be starring in "Hamlet Revenant", a spin-off adaptation on William Shakespeare's "Hamlet".

The film explores the violence and destructive instincts that haunt the human psyche through the story of a man caught in a vortex of revenge, doubt and madness. It is scheduled to begin production in the second half of 2017.

Mikkel Boe Følsgaard will head the international cast playing the Danish prince. The actor is best known for his lead role, opposite Alicia Vikander and Mads Mikkelsen, in Nikolaj Arcel's Oscar-nominated "A Royal Affair." Newcomer Maria Boda is set to play Ophelia, reports variety.com.

The cast also includes French actors Lambert Wilson and Dominique Pinon and British actor Lex Shrapnel.

"Hamlet Revenant" is being produced by France's Albatros Films in co-production with Germany's Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion; Italy's Filmexport Group; and Denmark's Sequoia Pictures.

--IANS

ks/rb