Oscar Isaac’s King Hamlet framed as an intimate, behind-the-scenes documentary

According to Collider, King Hamlet is a documentary directed and filmed by Elvira Lind that follows Oscar Isaac’s modernized Off-Broadway staging of Shakespeare’s Hamlet at NYC’s Public Theater.

The film is presented as much about Isaac’s life as it is about the play: Lind’s largely handheld camerawork and co-cinematographer Benitha Lock capture the rehearsal process from casual table reads through opening night, while the documentary shows Isaac balancing the production with the imminent arrival of his first child and his mother’s deteriorating health. The ensemble includes Keegan-Michael Key and Gayle Rankin, and the film highlights composer Ernst Reijseger’s work and occasional clashes with director Sam Gold; it also briefly notes Isaac’s ongoing commitment to Star Wars during the play’s development.

King Hamlet is described as a vulnerable, personal portrait of an actor at work, though some supporting cast and crew receive less screen time. The film lists an August 29, 2025 release date and an 89-minute runtime; it screened at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival but does not currently have a wide release date.

Key Topics

Culture, King Hamlet, Oscar Isaac, Elvira Lind, Public Theater, Sam Gold