By James White | Posted 16 Oct 2017

With a historic Emmy win in his pocket (he became the first man of South Asian descent to win at the ceremony and only the second Asian actor in history to win, for his role in The Night Of), Riz Ahmed has his eye on one of the most famous roles in dramatic history. He's now making a deal to play Hamlet.

Ahmed has been developing a new take on the story with Macbeth co-writer Michael Lesslie, who he's known since university. Together they've been working on a version that sets Shakespeare's classic tale in contemporary London, where the more traditional family and vengeance drama will play out against a backdrop of economic and political uncertainty.

Netflix has agreed to finance and will carry the film, most likely getting it into cinemas for a brief run. The next step will be to find a director.

Ahmed, who was last seen in cinemas in City Of Tiny Lights, has The Sisters Brothers headed our way next year and is also part of the cast for Venom.

Riz Ahmed Eyes Venom

Joaquin Phoenix eyes The Sisters Brothers

Jacques Audiard Adapting The Sisters Brothers