Elsinore, the movie based on the life of acclaimed stage and screen actor Ian Charleson, is coming to cinemas from January 2027 after premiering at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on 7 October 2026 to positive critical acclaim.
Elsinor, the biopic based on the life of actor Ian Charleson stars Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman alongside an array of West End stars, had its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival 2026 at the Royal Festival Hall on 7 October 2026 and received great critical acclaim.
Reviews following the film’s premieres at the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival 2026 in September also praised Scott’s “role of a lifetime” performance as Charleson, while The Times predicted that “Scott’s tearjerker will win him an Oscar.”
The film’s director Simon Stone shared that he and the team “couldn’t be prouder to be able to present this quintessentially London film on the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival. Anchored by Andrew Scott’s astounding central performance, few films will leave a lasting imprint on audiences this year quite like Elsinore.“
Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman star
Elsinore stars BAFTA winner and multi-Golden Globe nominee Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers, Ripley) alongside Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Crown), and celebrates the triumph of art and the resilience of one of theatre’s most celebrated talents.
Stone said: “This is one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever been involved in. Stephen Beresford’s screenplay is both heartbreaking and hilarious, a beautiful ode to the power of community in times of crisis. Andrew Scott is one of the greatest actors of his generation as Ian Charleson was: it’s momentous casting.
“Ian Charleson had many of his greatest triumphs on the stages of the West End, at the Young Vic and of course the National, where he ended his short but dazzling career playing an unforgettable Hamlet. We are so lucky to have Andrew Scott, a London Hamlet himself, breathing delicate inspiring life into this beautiful story.”
West End stars in ensemble cast
The film features an impressive ensemble of theatre and screen talent, including Billie Piper reuniting with Stone following their Olivier award-winning performance in Yerma at The Young Vic in 2016 and 2017.
The cast also includes:
- Olivier winner Juliet Stevenson (Reawakening, Truly Madly Deeply)
- BAFTA and Olivier winner Monica Dolan (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Days of the Bagnold Summer)
- BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar (Ali & Ava, Sherwood)
- BAFTA winner Peter Mullan (I Swear, Ozark)
- Johnny Flynn (Ripley, Beast)
- Luke Thompson (Bridgerton)
- Joe Locke (Heartstopper, Agatha All Along)
- Dickie Beau (Bohemian Rhapsody, Showmanism)
- Kadiff Kirwan (Slow Horses, Intimate Apparel)
- Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood, The Testament of Ann Lee)
- David Dawson (My Policeman, The Last Kingdom)
A celebration of Charleson’s legacy
Ian Charleson was a Scottish stage and screen actor best known for film roles including Chariots of Fire and Gandhi, and for his legendary performances in National Theatre productions of Hamlet and Guys & Dolls.
He faced incredible odds while preparing to give the performance of his life as Hamlet at the National Theatre in 1989 in the final months of his life. Charleson died in 1990 at the age of 40 from AIDS, and requested that the cause of his death be publicised to help promote awareness and acceptance of the disease.
The annual Ian Charleson Awards were established in 1990 in his memory, aiming to celebrate young actors under 30 performing in classical stage roles. Previous winners include Jack Lowden, Rebecca Hall, Rory Kinnear, David Oyelowo, Cush Jumbo, and Tom Hollander.
Production and creative team
Elsinore is written by BAFTA winner and Golden Globe nominee Stephen Beresford (Pride, Pride The Musical), marking a significant collaboration between two major theatre-rooted creative voices.
Its production design is by Helen Scott (Living), cinematography is by Mike Eley (The Dig), costume design by Mel Page (The Dig), and editing by Valerio Bonelli (Darkest Hour), while casting is by Jessica Ronane (Emma).
The film is produced by Andrea Occhipinti of Lucky Red (Il Divo, Everybody Knows), Gabrielle Tana of Magnolia Mae Films (The Dig, Philomena), Pete Shilaimon and Mickey Liddell of LD Entertainment (Jackie, Anthropoid), and Stefano Massenzi and Carolyn Marks Blackwood.
Andrew Scott is also a producer, alongside executive producers Stephen Beresford and Ethan Silverman.
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