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Today Amazon MGM Studios released the trailer and cover art for the new film Hedda written and directed by Nia DaCosta. The film stars Tessa Thompson in the titular role as Hedda Gabler. Imogen Poots plays Thea Clifton in a key supporting role and Tom Bateman portrays George Tesman, Hedda’s husband.
Nicholas Pinnock appears as Judge Roland Brack, another pivotal character and Nina Hoss takes on the role of Eileen Lovborg, a reimagined version of Ibsen’s Eilert Lövborg, now gender-swapped as Hedda’s former lover and rival.
Nina Hoss delivered a notable performance as Sharon in the film TÁR. She played Lydia Tár’s wife depicted by Cate Blanchett. Unlike Sharon’s more restrained loyalty in TÁR, Eileen in Hedda is a mirror and rival to Hedda Gabler. She embodies creativity, risk, and freedom — the life Hedda envies but can’t fully embrace.
So who is Hedda Gabler?
Hedda Gabler is the central character in Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play Hedda Gabler, one of the most famous works in modern drama. Often described as one of theater’s most complex anti-heroines, Hedda is a newly married woman who feels trapped in a life she didn’t truly choose. Intelligent, manipulative, and restless, she struggles against the social limitations placed on her, while also seeking a sense of freedom and control. Critics have long debated whether she’s a victim of her restrictive environment, a destructive force, or both. Her contradictions are brilliant yet bored, commanding yet powerless, but make her one of the most enduringly fascinating female roles in theater.
Why should you care about Nia DaCosta’s Hedda?
Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) is reimagining one of the most iconic female characters in world literature for a new generation. DaCosta has a track record of blending genre with deeper themes of race, gender, and societal pressures, so her Hedda isn’t just another period drama. It’s poised to be a sharp, stylish, and possibly subversive take on the Ibsen classic.
DaCosta’s version comes at a cultural moment when audiences are hungry for stories of women pushing against societal and personal limits. Hedda’s ambition, her frustration with confinement, and her refusal to play by the rules all resonate today.
And with Thompson in the lead, Hedda isn’t just a retelling; it’s a chance to see one of the greatest roles in modern drama refracted through the lens of a Black woman, with all the weight and freshness that brings. Expect conversations about power, agency, artistry, and the cost of defiance.
DaCosta has collaborated with Tessa Thompson before in a small indie film called Little Woods, which arguably is one of Thompson’s strongest performances to date. So it wouldn’t surprise me, if this film will bring yet another captivating portrayal from the actress. DaCosta has also proven that she’s not a one-trick pony in terms of genre. She can maneuver from indie drama to blockbuster superhero films to horror. Her next film after Hedda is the sequel to 28 Years Later aptly titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. And for fans that saw Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later that was released this summer, we’re all waiting with bated breath to see how the rest of this story will play out.
Final Thoughts
Hedda is notoriously difficult to translate on screen. Many adaptations exist, but few capture her contradictions in a way that feels contemporary. DaCosta, with her distinct lens and interest in layered, conflicted women, has the potential to breathe new life into Hedda’s struggles.
For Tessa Thompson this is a showcase role. Hedda has historically been played by titans of stage and screen (Ingrid Bergman, Cate Blanchett, Ruth Wilson). Tessa obviously has some big shoes to fill, but the trailer gives confidence that she’s got this covered.
There is a relevance to this story that is universal. Hedda’s story is about a woman boxed in by societal and personal expectations and that still resonates in 2025, especially with current conversations about autonomy, ambition, and the roles women are forced into. Where classic theater collides with modern vision, one of drama’s most enigmatic women steps into the cinematic spotlight once again.
The movie Hedda will premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival Sunday, September 7th. The film will have a limited theatrical run in October and will play in select theaters on October 22nd. It will premiere globally on Prime Video October 29th.
The post Who is Hedda Gabler and Why Should You Care about Nia DaCosta’s ‘Hedda’? appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
Today Amazon MGM Studios released the trailer and cover art for the new film Hedda written and directed by Nia DaCosta. The film stars Tessa Thompson in the titular role as Hedda Gabler. Imogen Poots plays Thea Clifton in a key supporting role and Tom Bateman portrays George Tesman, Hedda’s husband.
Nicholas Pinnock appears as Judge Roland Brack, another pivotal character and Nina Hoss takes on the role of Eileen Lovborg, a reimagined version of Ibsen’s Eilert Lövborg, now gender-swapped as Hedda’s former lover and rival.
Nina Hoss delivered a notable performance as Sharon in the film TÁR. She played Lydia Tár’s wife depicted by Cate Blanchett. Unlike Sharon’s more restrained loyalty in TÁR, Eileen in Hedda is a mirror and rival to Hedda Gabler. She embodies creativity, risk, and freedom — the life Hedda envies but can’t fully embrace.
So who is Hedda Gabler?
Hedda Gabler is the central character in Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play Hedda Gabler, one of the most famous works in modern drama. Often described as one of theater’s most complex anti-heroines, Hedda is a newly married woman who feels trapped in a life she didn’t truly choose. Intelligent, manipulative, and restless, she struggles against the social limitations placed on her, while also seeking a sense of freedom and control. Critics have long debated whether she’s a victim of her restrictive environment, a destructive force, or both. Her contradictions are brilliant yet bored, commanding yet powerless, but make her one of the most enduringly fascinating female roles in theater.
Why should you care about Nia DaCosta’s Hedda?
Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) is reimagining one of the most iconic female characters in world literature for a new generation. DaCosta has a track record of blending genre with deeper themes of race, gender, and societal pressures, so her Hedda isn’t just another period drama. It’s poised to be a sharp, stylish, and possibly subversive take on the Ibsen classic.
DaCosta’s version comes at a cultural moment when audiences are hungry for stories of women pushing against societal and personal limits. Hedda’s ambition, her frustration with confinement, and her refusal to play by the rules all resonate today.
And with Thompson in the lead, Hedda isn’t just a retelling; it’s a chance to see one of the greatest roles in modern drama refracted through the lens of a Black woman, with all the weight and freshness that brings. Expect conversations about power, agency, artistry, and the cost of defiance.
DaCosta has collaborated with Tessa Thompson before in a small indie film called Little Woods, which arguably is one of Thompson’s strongest performances to date. So it wouldn’t surprise me, if this film will bring yet another captivating portrayal from the actress. DaCosta has also proven that she’s not a one-trick pony in terms of genre. She can maneuver from indie drama to blockbuster superhero films to horror. Her next film after Hedda is the sequel to 28 Years Later aptly titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. And for fans that saw Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later that was released this summer, we’re all waiting with bated breath to see how the rest of this story will play out.
Final Thoughts
Hedda is notoriously difficult to translate on screen. Many adaptations exist, but few capture her contradictions in a way that feels contemporary. DaCosta, with her distinct lens and interest in layered, conflicted women, has the potential to breathe new life into Hedda’s struggles.
For Tessa Thompson this is a showcase role. Hedda has historically been played by titans of stage and screen (Ingrid Bergman, Cate Blanchett, Ruth Wilson). Tessa obviously has some big shoes to fill, but the trailer gives confidence that she’s got this covered.
There is a relevance to this story that is universal. Hedda’s story is about a woman boxed in by societal and personal expectations and that still resonates in 2025, especially with current conversations about autonomy, ambition, and the roles women are forced into. Where classic theater collides with modern vision, one of drama’s most enigmatic women steps into the cinematic spotlight once again.
The movie Hedda will premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival Sunday, September 7th. The film will have a limited theatrical run in October and will play in select theaters on October 22nd. It will premiere globally on Prime Video October 29th.
The post Who is Hedda Gabler and Why Should You Care about Nia DaCosta’s ‘Hedda’? appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle are set to make their Broadway debuts in the first New York revival of David Auburn’s Pulitzer and Tony-winning play Proof.
Previews kick off March 31, 2026, ahead of an official opening night on April 16 at a Shubert Theatre.
Directed by Tony-winning powerhouse Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Moulin Rouge!), this revival promises to blend sharp storytelling with powerhouse performances. The story follows Catherine, a mathematical genius haunted by the fear that she might inherit her father’s mental illness, as she navigates grief, love, and the authenticity of a potentially groundbreaking proof left behind in his papers. It’s a drama that’s equal parts brainy and heartbreaking.
Edebiri has been dominating screens as Sydney on FX’s The Bear, earning three Emmy nominations for her layered, chaotic, hilarious, and heartbreaking performance. She’s now taking that same magnetic energy to the Broadway stage and also has Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt on her upcoming slate. Meanwhile, Don Cheadle, a Hollywood icon and Oscar nominee for 2005’s Hotel Rwanda, and best known for us Marvel fans as Rhodey aka War Machine in the Avengers franchise. Now, the legendary actor makes his official Broadway debut alongside one of the buzziest rising stars of the moment.
Originally premiering Off Broadway in 2000 before its Broadway transfer, Proof swept the Tonys, taking home three awards including Best Play and Best Actress for Mary-Louise Parker. Now, audiences will see Edebiri and Cheadle step into this iconic story, bringing their own energy, nuance, and charisma to the stage.
The production is in powerhouse hands: Tony-winning director Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Moulin Rouge!) is at the helm, promising a revival that balances the play’s intellectual rigor with emotional resonance. The creative team reads like Broadway goals: Oscar-winning composer Kris Bowers (original music), scenic designer Teresa L. Williams, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Amanda Zieve, and casting director Daniel Swee. More announcements are expected, but this roster already screams excellence.
Whether you’re a theater nerd, a fan of The Bear, or just love seeing Black excellence shine across mediums, this revival is shaping up to be unmissable. Broadway just got a little wilder, a lot smarter, and absolutely star-studded.
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“There can be only one,” unless we’re talking about Highlander. In that case Hollywood will just keep making new versions again and again. Now we know for sure it will very soon. A big screen reboot, starring Henry Cavill as its titular Immortal, will be John Wick director Chad Stahelski‘s next film.. But that’s not the only job he’s taking on. Lionsgate has also tasked him with overseeing both the John Wick franchise and the new Highlander franchise he’s launching.
Cavill will go up against Dave Bautista, who will play the immortal villain known as The Kurgen in the Highlander reboot. It’s a fan-casting dream come true for many folks. Conversely, Karen Gillan will join the fray as Heather, “MacLeod’s mortal wife and the love of his life.” We can’t wait to see this dynamic romance come to life.
In late 2023 Stahelski said his Highlander reboot was still in development. Not long after, Deadline reported Lionsgate was definitely “moving forward” with the project. Now we know it will be Stahelski’s next feature film.
That first feature will only be the start. This news comes as part of a larger deal with Lionsgate. The studio has also put the John Wick director in charge of the assassin franchise. He will have “creative oversight” of the popular series. Stahelski will also fill the same role for his budding new Highlander franchise. He will lead both properties across film, television, and other mediums. (Yup, it might not be long before Highlander returns to TV.)
“I am pleased to be able to grow my relationship with Lionsgate in this new oversight role for the John Wick universe and its further expansion,” said Stahelski in a statement. “John Wick is so close to my heart and to be able to continue shepherding it will be a blast for me. I’m so happy to also be launching another franchise with Highlander, a world that is so rich with engaging stories to be told.”
Previous reports said his first Highlander film will also have a big-time budget topping $100 million. These new films will also touch upon elements long-time fans know and love about the franchise. During an interview last year Stahelski told Josh Horowitz, “Our story engages a lot of the same characters and stuff like that. But we’ve also brought in elements of all the TV shows, and we’re trying to do a bit of a prequel, a setup to The Gathering. So we have room to grow the property.”
Star Cavill additionally noted to the Happy Sad and Confused podcast, “Obviously, I watched [Highlander movies] when I was a lot younger, and have since rewatched. But also the TV show. I really enjoyed the lore behind it. That sense of a tragic warrior, with more of a story to tell than just a cool guy with a cool sword doing cool things. And this goes even deeper into that.”
Exactly how much the new rebooted franchise will connect to the previous Christopher Lambert Highlander show and movies is still unknown. The exact nature of Cavill’s role on the show, which we first reported on in 2021, is also unclear. Although, most likely, he’ll be playing the rebooted Immortal Connor MacLeod. What we do know, for now, is that Russell Crowe has come aboard the reboot. He’ll play the role of Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, made famous by Sean Connery in the original 1986 movie. Additionally, Industry star Marisa Abela has joined the cast as well.
As for the rest, we bet it won’t be that much longer until we find out more about the Highlander reboot.
Originally published on August 29, 2023.
The post Karen Gillan Joins HIGHLANDER Reboot as the Love of Henry Cavill’s Life appeared first on Nerdist.
Nearly three decades after Martin Lawrence’s hit sitcom Martin left the airwaves, one of its most unforgettable guest stars is stepping into the spotlight. BET+ has officially greenlit Varnell Hill, a spinoff centered on Tommy Davidson’s hilariously flamboyant talk show host who first appeared in the ’90s classic. The new workplace comedy will take viewers behind the curtain of The Varnell Hill Show, blending celebrity cameos, industry satire, and the over-the-top charm that made Davidson’s character a fan favorite.
Now, let’s dive into everything we know so far about Varnell Hill, the upcoming Martin spinoff heading to BET+:
The show has an 8-episode series order
Greenlit by BET+, the workplace comedy is set behind the scenes of the fictional late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show, exploring the chaotic world of television production. There will be a lively mix of satire, cutaways, fourth-wall breaks, and celebrity cameos, blending humor with sharp industry satire.
The Named Cast and Creative Team
Tommy Davidson returns as the flamboyant Varnell Hill—his original two-episode stint on Martin left a lasting cultural impact. Deadline confirmed Comedy veteran Kym Whitley has been cast as a series regular opposite Davidson.
Martin Lawrence (co-creator of Martin) will executive produce the spinoff and Bentley Kyle Evans, longtime collaborator and original Martin showrunner, will write, direct the pilot, and serve as showrunner and executive producer. Jesse Collins joins as executive producer, with additional EP credits including Dionne Harmon, Andy Horne, Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, and Rae Proctor. Deadline has also confirmed Lawrence is poised to reprise his Martin Payne role in multiple episodes of the series, which has started production in Los Angeles.
The Nostalgia Factor
The spinoff was announced on the 35th anniversary of In Living Color — highlighting Tommy Davidson’s roots and the show’s nostalgic pull. It also follows a recent Martin reunion, including original cast members appearing together at the Emmys, demonstrating renewed interest in the franchise.
Release Date Information
No release date has been announced. And no trailers or official clips are available at this time.
Original Cast Returning?
Aside from Lawrence, it’s unclear if any Martin alums (like Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, or Carl Anthony Payne II) will appear, though celebrity cameos are promised.
Varnell Hill will be a BET+ exclusive. Meanwhile, the original Martin series is available to stream on Peacock, Netflix, and BET+
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