Credit: Anthony Dickenson / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
Focus Features has acquired ELSINORE, from acclaimed director Simon Stone, an inspiring true story starring Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers, Pressure) as Ian Charleson, an actor at the height of his powers whose final performance — on stage at London’s National Theatre — became his greatest triumph.
Facing his own mortality with unflinching honesty, wit, and grace, Charleson delivers a courageous performance that becomes a source of healing and inspiration for those around him.
The film, written by Stephen Beresford (Pride), also stars Academy Award Winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Lost Daughter) Billie Piper, and Johnny Flynn.
Charleson gave a career-defining performance as the real-life Scottish Olympic athlete and missionary Eric Liddell in the acclaimed 1981 historical drama CHARIOTS OF FIRE. The film won Best Picture. He also starred in Sir Richard Attenborough’s GHANDI.
Sadly, Charleson diagnosed with HIV in 1986 and died from AIDS-related complications in 1990 at the age of 40. He was the first high-profile celebrity in the United Kingdom to openly request that his cause of death be announced as AIDS.
Ian McKellen wrote a tribute to his friend in January 1990: “those who knew only the public man, can be grateful that Ian Charleson’s acting powers never declined and that, right at the end, he gave a performance which perhaps he could never have equalled.”
Elsinore is produced by STUDIOCANAL, LD Entertainment, Lucky Red and Magnolia Mae Films, and will be released in North America by Focus Features, with Universal Pictures International distributing the film in Latin America. STUDIOCANAL is releasing ELSINORE theatrically in their markets of the UK, France, Germany, Italy (Lucky Red), Poland, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand. STUDIOCANAL is handling worldwide sales.
Launching in select theaters on November 20, the film expands to additional markets over the Thanksgiving holiday and throughout December.
