Grand Theft Hamlet Gets a New Trailer and Official Poster
Actors attempting to stage the Bard in Los Santos was certainly not in anyone's bingo for 2024.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when theaters remained shuttered and actors struggled to find work, two thespians named Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen stumbled upon an unexpected stage: the chaotic world of Grand Theft Auto Online.
This led to the creation of Grand Theft Hamlet, a BIFA 2024-nominated documentary that chronicles their madcap attempt to stage a production of Shakespeare's famous tragedy within the unpredictable confines of Rockstar's open-world game, amid wanton missiles and less than peaceful hecklers.
Directed by Crane and his filmmaker wife Pinny Grylls, Grand Theft Hamlet is part hilarious comedy, part poignant exploration of the arts' existential crisis during lockdown. It also raises interesting questions about the medium of art. Is this, technically, machinima?
The film follows Crane and Oosterveen as they occupy digital avatars and battle against in-game griefers to set up a virtual performance of Hamlet at the Vinewood Bowl in Los Santos. To be (blown up by an Oppressor Mk.II) or not to be?
With its juxtaposition of Shakespearean gravitas and GTA's over-the-top chaos, Grand Theft Hamlet is exactly what you'd expect GTA Online to be as a cinematic experience. Empire recently shared a new trailer with additional scenes that weren't featured in the first trailer. Check it out below. There's also an official poster accompanying it.
The film has already proven to be a hit on the festival circuit and is now set for a wider release. Grand Theft Hamlet will hit UK and Irish cinemas on December 6, before launching globally on MUBI in early 2025.
Additionally, select cinemas in the UK and Ireland will be offering free previews of the film on December 2 as part of the Escapes initiative - moviegoers can reserve up to two complimentary tickets through the Escapes website.
The overlap for people who love Shakespeare, people who love indie films, and people who love GTA has to be the strangest Venn diagram in existence. Either way, Grand Theft Hamlet is a must-see for fans of Shakespeare, indie documentaries, and the chaos of GTA Online alike.
