"Elsinore," a biographical drama starring Andrew Scott as Scottish actor Ian Charleson, will open the 70th BFI London Film Festival on 7 October, with fresh casting details and release dates now confirmed. The film's European premiere gala, held at the Royal Festival Hall next to the National Theatre, is expected to draw Scott alongside co-stars including Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn and Luke Thompson, cementing the festival's decision to open with a project rooted firmly in London's theatre world.

Directed by Simon Stone and written by Stephen Beresford, the film dramatises Charleson's struggle to deliver an acclaimed Hamlet at the National Theatre before his death, with a wider cast now confirmed to include Monica Dolan, Matthew Beard, Joe Locke, Adeel Akhtar, Juliet Stevenson and Peter Mullan. Scott also produces alongside Andrea Occhipinti, Gabrielle Tana, Pete Shilaimon, Mickey Liddell, Stefano Massenzi and Carolyn Marks Blackwood; StudioCanal will release the film in UK cinemas on 29 January, with Focus Features handling a US release on 20 November, and festival director Kristy Matheson and Stone both praised the film in statements marking the announcement.