Andrew Scott's Near-Perfect Biopic Is Officially 2026's Next Can't-Miss Movie in New Trailer

Earlier this year, Andrew Scott starred in Pressure, which chronicled one of Britain's finest hours of the 20th century. This fall, he'll star in Elsinore, a drama about one of its greatest shames: an unchecked pandemic that cut down many of its best and brightest in the prime of their lives. Elsinore will hit theaters this fall, but we now have a first glimpse of it with the release of its first trailer. The film is based on the true story of Ian Charleson, a Scottish actor famed worldwide for his silver screen performances in Chariots of Fire and Gandhi, he was also a noted stage star in the UK.

In the 1980s, Charleson was diagnosed with AIDS, which was essentially a death sentence at the time. Despite being severely ill, he took on the lead role in a production of Hamlet at the National Theatre in 1989. Charleson's performance, which was universally acclaimed, would turn out to be his swan song, as he succumbed to the disease months later. He insisted that his cause of death be announced publicly, a rarity at the time; it helped foster greater awareness of the threat posed by AIDS, which was then poorly understood.

Elsinore centers around the last months of Charleson's life, as he braves his illness while treading the boards one last time. Helping him is Margaret Johnson (Olivia Colman), one of the UK's first doctors to specialize in AIDS; by his side is his friend, casting director Patsy Pollock (Billie Piper), who sees him through his final days. But it's Charleson who musters the strength to deliver the performance of a lifetime. The film is directed by Simon Stone (The Woman in Cabin 10), from a script by Stephen Beresford (Tolkien); it will be released by Focus Features on November 20.

What Are the Critics Saying About 'Elsinore'?

Elsinore currently holds an 89% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with Scott and Colman's performances being singled out for praise. In her review, Collider's Terese Lacson was moved by Scott's bravura performance, which is already being brought up in the end-of-year awards conversation; according to Lacson, he gives "an authentic and gut-wrenching performance that stays with you long after the movie is over."