Fan-Made GTA Online Hamlet Production Coming to Cinemas, Streaming Services

To thine own self be true

by Khayl Adam 8am

A production of Shakespeare's immortal play, Hamlet, produced entirely inside GTA Online, is getting a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and UK and gracing various streaming services. The above trailer gives you a taste of the drama to come, and Eurogamer has the details via Deadline.

Set during the pandemic, Grand Theft Hamlet is a documentary that follows increasingly socially isolated theatre actors Sam and Mark, who have the idea to stage an in-game play. The "film charts their ridiculous, hilarious and moving adventure as they battle violent griefers and discover surprising truths about life, friendship and the enduring power of Shakespeare."

Art house distributor Mubi has acquired US cinema rights for this one, and it's been a hit at film festivals. If you're in the UK, you can get ahead of the curve and see Grand Theft Hamlet at the Bath Film Festival (21st October), Cambridge Film Festival (24th & 25th October), and Leeds Film Festival (8th & 9th November).

What do you think of Grand Theft Hamlet? Put a modern spin on a timeless classic in the comments section below.

That’s awesome. Always supportive of art being used in different ways, sounds like it’s worth checking out.

2
Nepp67
9:19am

I'm surprised Rockstar hasn't sued the crap out of them for it yet.

3
tomassi
9:24am

Am I missing something? I thought someone had made Hamlet using director mode etc, which sounded awesome. This 'trailer' is basically just someone playing GTA isn't it? Why would you watch a YouTube stream in a cinema? I didn't have the sound on to be fair, so may have missed something!

There was a time when GTA online had arm wrestling as an activity…..2013 to now, oooh how far it has come at the price of no single player GTA 5 DLC and the looooooong wait for GTA 6 😤

@Nepp67
I mean what could they sue them for? Shakespeare's works are all public domain and machinimas (which this clearly is) have been around for literal decades now with no legal consequences.

If Red vs Blue can then I guess so here too?

Either way it's kind of cool but as long as it's not trying to resell things as companies are picky that way.

If it has assets that are original sure I guess it is just using the game the same way someone would a resource/texture pack in other games. But if it doesn't then well I don't know what grounds it can then as it'd be just a web series type of project but differently.

Then again with kid audience (as in like the well known Minecraft youtubers or other games or whatever, I don't pay attention to it I just know this is/was a thing) youtube channel uploads to streaming services what limits are what these days anymore?

I mean it is a fan/Indie film of sorts using a game or game engine to make something happen but the product doesn't likely have the same terms as editing software or a game engine and does for a GAME and as they are using the assets of the game regardless of the framing and dialogue.

For a web series sure but for more than that I do question it.

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