James Norton at HBO Max's U.K. launch in March. Courtesy of Getty James Norton, currently starring as newcomer Ormund Hightower in season three of House of the Dragon, is set to take on the titular role in a new production of Hamlet.
The Happy Valley and Little Women actor will be the West End‘s first Hamlet since Andrew Scott in 2017. He’ll be directed by acclaimed German creative Thomas Ostermeier, whose last two London plays featured Cate Blanchett (in The Seagull) and Matt Smith (An Enemy of the People).
The production will open in the autumn of next year. Norton said it is “a privilege” but “pretty terrifying” for anyone to take on Shakespeare’s grief-stricken prince. “But with Thomas Ostermeier at the helm, I know I could not be in better hands,” he continued. “Both this role and this director have intrigued me and challenged me over the years, and so I cannot wait to start this journey with Thomas and see where it takes us.”
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Ostermeier added: “I am pleased to be revisiting Hamlet for the West End with the great stage actor, James Norton. It will be my first time directing Shakespeare in English, and I am excited to explore the original text in order to bring this new production to life.
“My first Hamlet has been touring the world for 18 years,” he said, in reference to the show that sees six performers take on around 20 roles, “so I am honoured to have the opportunity to bring it here to London with James, who in my mind is a perfect Prince of Denmark.”
Norton last performed on stage in Ivo Van Hove’s acclaimed theatre production of Hanya Yanagihara’s bestselling novel, A Little Life. Onscreen, he is next appearing in Sam Mendes’ four-film event The Beatles in the role of Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager, alongside Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn.
Ostermeier is one of the most influential figures in contemporary European theatre. Since 1999, he has served as artistic director of the Schaubühne Berlin, where he has gained international acclaim for his innovative reinterpretations of classic works, alongside championing contemporary playwrights. Ostermeier has received many honours, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2011.
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