Nia DaCosta’s Hedda Premieres Toronto Film Festival Featuring Tessa Thompson

HEDDA is a modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen's classic 1891 play Hedda Gabler, directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Tessa Thompson as the titular character. Set in 1954, the film explores Hedda, a newlywed socialite trapped between the suffocating expectations of her life and the lingering ache of a past love, portrayed by Nina Hoss as Eileen, a reimagined female version of the original male character Eilert Lövborg. The story unfolds over one dramatic night at a Gatsby-esque party, spiraling into a volatile mix of passion, betrayal, and manipulation, culminating in chaos symbolized by a shattered chandelier and gunshots. DaCosta's adaptation adds a fresh layer by embracing a lesbian love triangle, deepening the narrative's emotional and social complexity while highlighting the struggles women face to be seen as individuals beyond societal constraints. The film is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and will be released in select theaters and on Prime Video later in October. With a strong ensemble cast and a score by Oscar-winner Hildur Guðnadóttir, HEDDA aims to reclaim and reinvent a timeless character for contemporary audiences.