The excellent first trailer for Prime Video's new thriller Hedda has been released, while also being confirmed for the upcoming 69th BFI London Film Festival (LFF).
The film, which stars Thor's Tessa Thompson in the titular role, is adapted from the classic Henrik Ibsen play Hedda Gabler, and has been described as a "bold" and "original" reimagining (via TIFF).
Hedda focuses on a dissatisfied newlywed who gets her husband George (Tom Bateman) to throw a lavish party that they cannot afford – though among the guests is Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss), a rival for an academic post George is going for.
The thrilling first trailer teases an "incident" at the event as Hedda speaks to the police in the aftermath, before we see the previous night's party unfold.
During the festivities, Hedda crosses paths with Eileen as their romantic history is teased, while we also see her toying with the other guests as part of her mysterious plan – with violent consequences.
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The film is written and directed by The Marvels and Candyman's Nia DaCosta, who explained to Vanity Fair that Hedda is "an inscrutable character", adding: "Since the beginning, for the past hundred years, people have been like, 'What the f**k is her deal?'"
"Hedda is someone who wants people’s animals to come out. She just feels like everyone is cowardly, everyone’s lying. She has this deepening emptiness inside of her that makes her do things she doesn’t understand – and she is living in a world that she doesn’t get."
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The trailer comes as the LFF announced its Official Competition line-up, with Hedda among the film set to compete.
They include Saoirse Ronan-starring school comedy thriller Bad Apples, George MacKay and Callum Turner's time-hopping sci-fi Rose of Nevada, Amanda Seyfried's biopic The Testament of Ann Lee and South Korean drama The World of Love.
Hedda will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and will screen at the BFI London Film Festival in October, before being released in US cinemas on October 22 and later streaming on Prime Video from October 29.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
