Focus Features has released the first official trailer for Elsinore, a biographical drama starring Andrew Scott as the acclaimed Scottish actor Ian Charleson. Following a successful run at the Telluride and Toronto International Film Festivals, the film is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on November 20, 2026.
The narrative focuses on the final months of Charleson’s life, specifically his 1989 performance in Hamlet at the National Theatre. At the time, Charleson was dying from AIDS-related complications, and the film depicts his determination to complete the run while navigating his deteriorating health and the societal stigma of the era.
Directed by Simon Stone and written by Stephen Beresford, Elsinore arrived to strong critical reception. The film currently holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 38 reviews, with much of the praise directed toward Scott’s portrayal of the Chariots of Fire star. The production highlights a pivotal moment in British cultural history; Charleson was the first high-profile UK celebrity to have his death openly attributed to AIDS in 1990, a decision made to raise awareness and combat the silence surrounding the crisis.
The ensemble cast features Olivia Colman as Dr. Margaret Johnson, the physician treating Charleson, and Billie Piper as Patsy Pollock. Johnny Flynn portrays Richard Eyre, the then-director of the National Theatre.
Early critical assessments suggest the film serves as a companion piece to the actual 1989 production. The newly released trailer emphasizes the physical and emotional toll the role took on Charleson, framed against the backdrop of a theatrical community grappling with the height of the epidemic.
For Scott, Elsinore marks the conclusion of a prolific year. He previously appeared in the World War II drama Pressure, released in May 2026, where he portrayed the meteorologist James Stagg. While Pressure focused on technical precision and historical tension, Elsinore is being positioned as a more intimate, performance-driven piece likely to factor into the upcoming awards season.
