Riz Ahmed to star in Netflix's “Hamlet”

Riz Ahmed is in talks to star in Netflix's “Hamlet”, playing the title character in the contemporary take on Shakespeare's tragedy.

Mike Lesslie, who penned 2015's “Macbeth” that starred Michael Fassbender, will write the adaptation which is set in modern-day London, complete with economic and political uncertainty.

Kenneth Branagh, Ethan Hawke and Mel Gibson are among the actors who have previously played the Danish prince onscreen, with countless others tackling the character for the stage. Recently, Oscar Isaac played Hamlet at New York's Public Theater.

Ahmed is one of Hollywood's most in-demand rising stars. He is next set for “The Sisters Brothers” and Sony's Spider-Man spinoff “Venom”, in which he will star opposite Tom Hardy. The English actor, who also raps with Das Racist alum Heems as duo the Swet Shop Boys, was last seen in the “Star Wars” stand-alone Rogue One.

Recently, Ahmed made history by becoming the first man of South Asian descent to take home an Emmy, winning for his role in HBO's “The Night Of”.

Source: THR