Let me just see what you all think of this:
Emile Hirsh starring as
Hamlet in a version directed by
Catherine Hardwicke set at Hamlet's college, not Elsinore Castle, that is going to be like a Shakespearean thriller. Any takers? Well be prepared, cause that is exactly what is going to happening in the very near future. Emile was on hand at the
Taking Woodstock junket and
New York premiere to talk about his new movie and how he feels about tackling one of the most difficult parts in theatre history.
"We want to make this one more of a thriller, with more of a horror aspect to it." So exactly how much of the story are you guys planning to change? We've still got the same basic uncle kills father, mother marries uncle thing going on, right? Sadly Emile didn't really have any more details that we did, but he did tell
Cinema Blend that it was
Taking Woodstock co-star
Liev Schreiber who got him into the film.
"I had read the play after Liev recommended it, and I had never seen or read it. I just loved it. I remember Googling 'how old is Hamlet,' in this really paranoid way. Like, can I play this thing? It's always these guys in their 40s [in film versions]. But it was this huge internet debate. 'Hamlet should be 20,' one geek says. Then another geek says 'No he shouldn't. 35!' and it just goes back and forth forever. And I was like, this is perfect. When I read the play, it was so appropriate that he would be a guy in his very early 20s. The young angst of that time in your life seemed very appropriate to me."
He said they're holding off on production until they find the perfect Ophelia to match the film. I bet you Catherine is going to cast either
Kristen Stewart or
Nikki Reed, both of whom would be terrible. But the whole movie itself sounds terrible. Ugh. This is so upsetting. Who knows, maybe it'll be inspired! We'll just have to wait and see.
Gallery Info: Emile Hirsh is joined by
Ang Lee, Brianna Domont, and
Demetri Martin at the LA premiere of
Taking Woodstock.
Click any thumbnail launch the gallery and view all 20 photos: