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Riz Ahmed in talks to star in Netflix's Hamlet

Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

From Digital Spy

Not long after his Emmy win for his sublime turn in HBO's The Night Of, Riz Ahmed is currently in talks to star in Netflix's contemporary production of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

The newly revised version, which is set in London and reflects the capital's economic and political uncertainty, has been adapted by Ahmed and writer Mike Lesslie, whose credits include Macbeth and Assasins Creed, according to Deadline.

The story will reportedly also focus on familial honour and moral duty, and will be financed and distributed by Netflix.

British-Pakistani Ahmed is also known for his activism, and has spoken out about how he was typecast as a terrorist in the early stages of his career, and how he is often discriminated against because of his heritage by airport security.

Photo credit: HBO
Photo credit: HBO

Earlier this year, he delivered an impassioned lecture in the House of Commons about the importance of diversity in the media, and how failure to welcome it is pushing young people towards Isis.

Hamlet will tackle issues of racial inequality and discrimination.

The star also became the first male of South Asian descent to win an Emmy, and only the second Asian actor in history to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, which he picked up at the ceremony last month.

He's also reportedly in contention with Matt Smith to join Spider-Man spin-off Venom, alongside fellow Brit Tom Hardy as the title character.

The actor will appear next in dark Western drama The Sisters Brothers opposite his Night Crawler co-star Jake Gyllenhaal, and Joaquin Phoenix.


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