EXCLUSIVE: Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts are in final talks to star in Ophelia, a re-imagining of Shakespeares classic Hamlet through the eyes of the plays famously doomed heroine. Covert Media has boarded to finance and handle international sales at Cannes.
In Shakespeares play, Ophelia is one of only two female characters along with Gertrude. She gradually is driven mad by Hamlets erratic behavior toward her, especially, as well as those around him. Unbeknownst to Ophelia, he also kills her father Polonius. Overcome by grief, she later is found drowned. It is not entirely clear in the play if she killed herself or simply suffered an accident. As per Gertrudes poetic summation of her death, one of literatures most evocative passages, Ophelia was incapable of her own distress.
The project is based on the award-winning novel by Lisa Klein, which Semi Chellas (Mad Men) has adapted. Claire McCarthy (The Waiting City) will direct. Daniel Bobker and Ehren Kruger (The Brothers Grimm) are producing along with Sarah Curtis (Hysteria). CAA packaged and arranged financing and will handle the domestic sale.
