Tessa Thompson and Nia DaCosta, who previously worked together on the critically acclaimed film Little Woods, are teaming up once again for a new project called Hedda. The film will be an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, one of the greatest dramatic roles in theater history.
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Directed and written by DaCosta, Hedda promises to be an epic and visceral reimagination of the legendary 1891 stage play. Thompson, who has become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars, will play the title character, Hedda, who is trapped in a marriage and a house she does not want.
The film will be produced by Plan B, DaCosta, Gabrielle Nadig, and Thompson herself via her Viva Maude label. Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude and Michael Constable will serve as executive producers.
Hedda Gabler is one of Henrik Ibsen’s most famous plays and has been adapted numerous times for the stage, screen, and television. It first premiered in Norway in 1891, to negative reviews, but has since become a staple of modern theater.
The play has been translated into many languages and adapted for different cultures and audiences. Notable stage productions include the 1902 Broadway production starring Minnie Maddern Fiske, the 2005 Broadway production starring Kate Burton, and the 2017 National Theatre production starring Ruth Wilson.
On screen, the play has been adapted for both film and television. Ingrid Bergman starred in a BBC TV production in 1962, which is widely regarded as one of the best adaptations of the play. Trevor Nunn’s 1975 film adaptation, also titled Hedda, earned Glenda Jackson an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
In addition to these adaptations, the play has inspired many modern works. For example, playwright Lucy Kirkwood wrote a modern-day adaptation called Hedda Tesman in 2019, which premiered at the Chichester Festival Theatre in the UK.
With Thompson’s talent and star power, she is sure to bring a formidable performance to the role of Hedda. Her previous work includes scene-stealing appearances in Marvel’s Thor franchise, the Creed trilogy, and a BAFTA-nominated performance in the 2021 period drama Passing. She has also starred in all four seasons of HBO’s hit series Westworld.
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