The 2018 drama Little Woods was pivotal to the careers of Tessa Thompson, showing how deep her acting range really is, and director Nia DaCosta, setting her on a course that would lead to the Candyman reboot and The Marvels. And now after all of their success, Thompson and DaCosta are set to reunite on an adaptation of a eplay that features one of the great dramatic female roles ever created for the stage.
THR reports Thompson and DaCosta will reunite for Hedda, an “epic and visceral reimagination” of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play, Hedda Gabler. The original story centers on Hedda Tesman, a General’s daughter unhappy in her marriage to a devoted but oblivious husband. She sets out to manipulate the lives of others for her own happiness.
Hedda Gabler has rightfully been desribed as a female version of Hamlet.
DaCosta will both write the screenplay and direct, with Thompson taking on the lead role. Brad Pitt’s Plan B and Orion Pictures are aboard to produce, and you can bet they’ll have this one timed to an awards season release.
How a reimagining will work is unclear, but it’s plot and themes are easily transported into contemporary context. A 1975 big screen adaptation directed by Trevor Nunn earned star Glenda Jackson an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Could Thompson be looking at the same accolades when this new version of Hedda arrives?
