The classic Henrik Ibsen heroine Hedda Gabler, often called the "female Hamlet," has been reimagined in a bold new film adaptation simply titled Hedda.
Directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels), the film relocates Ibsen's 1891 play to 1950s England and explores themes of desire, power, gender, race, and class. Tessa Thompson stars as the complex, manipulative, yet vulnerable Hedda, who is trapped in a loveless marriage. The cast also features Nina Hoss as the gender-swapped former lover, Eileen.
The adaptation condenses the story into one night during a decadent soirée where Hedda manipulates her peers. DaCosta stated the film highlights Hedda’s "many masks" and the tension between survival and desire. The story also emphasizes the interplay of three women Hedda, Eileen, and Thea as they negotiate freedom in a restrictive society.
Hedda is currently showing in select US and UK cinemas and will be available for international streaming on Prime Video from October 29. The film continues the legacy of a role that has fascinated and divided audiences for over a century, cementing its status as one of theatre's greatest female roles.
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