Nia DaCosta’s latest film Hedda is almost here. The adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play Hedda Gabler will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7 before opening in select theaters on October 22 and arriving on Prime Video October 29. Amazon MGM Studios has released the first trailer, giving audiences a glimpse at DaCosta’s bold new vision.
For her first feature since Marvel’s The Marvels (2023), DaCosta has shifted away from blockbuster spectacle toward something more intimate. Hedda reimagines Ibsen’s story through a contemporary lens, set in the mid-20th century, while exploring timeless themes of love, repression, and self-destruction.
Cast & Crew
The film features Tessa Thompson in the titular role, marking her second collaboration with DaCosta after Little Woods. The ensemble also includes Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nicholas Pinnock, Nina Hoss, Finbar Lynch, Mirren Mack, Jamael Westman, Saffron Hocking, and Kathryn Hunter.
DaCosta wrote and directed the project, also serving as a producer alongside Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Gabrielle Nadig, and Thompson. Executive producers include Michael S. Constable, Brad Pitt, and Kishori Rajan.
A Reimagined Classic
While rooted in Ibsen’s original narrative, DaCosta introduces new dimensions to the story. In this version, Eilert Lövborg—George Tesman’s rival—is re-envisioned as Eileen Lovborg (played by Nina Hoss), who is openly queer and in a relationship with another woman. This twist reframes the story’s central tensions into a complicated, passionate love triangle.
On the surface, Hedda has everything she is supposed to want: a husband, wealth, and social standing. But beneath the glamour, she is restless, manipulative, and dissatisfied. The return of someone from her past pushes her toward chaos, freedom, and ultimately, destruction.
A Festival Highlight
Hedda joins a strong lineup at TIFF’s 50th edition, which also includes Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers. Following its festival debut, Hedda will continue its rollout with limited theatrical play before heading to Prime Video for global streaming.
DaCosta has also completed production on 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, due in theaters January 2026, but Hedda marks her return to stripped-down dramatic storytelling—the type of work that first established her voice as a filmmaker.
Watch the trailer for Hedda below.