In "Hedda," Nia DaCosta and Tessa Thompson transform Hedda Gabler into a woman yearning for life.

      “It’s challenging to possess agency as a human, and when you add the specifics of a particular era, it becomes even more difficult. In a way, when we disconnect parts of ourselves, it feels like a slow death... I believe this Hedda is a woman who desperately wants to live,” stated Tessa Thompson, who stars as Hedda, during a Q&A session at the film’s debut at the Toronto Film Festival.

      Directed by Nia DaCosta, Hedda is a reimagining of Henrik Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler. The adaptation takes some liberties by shifting the setting from the 1890s to the 1950s and by changing the character of Eilert to Eileen. These adjustments are crucial for heightening the film's stakes and emphasizing that what Hedda yearns for may be just beyond her reach.

      This conflict affects all the characters in the film, including Eileen, portrayed by Nina Hoss, who is a former lover of Hedda, as well as Hedda’s husband George, played by Tom Batemen.

      “What I found remarkable about Nia's decision to set it in the 1950s is that it was such a tense period marked by conflicts around gender, race, and class... What Ibsen accomplished, and what Nia has enhanced in this version, is the challenge presented to all these characters,” Batemen remarked.

      Hoss added, “I was genuinely amazed by Nia's idea that either gender could be effectively represented... I read the script and thought, ‘Wow, this is incredibly interesting because it holds significant meaning. The challenges for a woman entering this academic sphere as a writer are immense; she knows it’s her only path, she excels at it, yet is confronted with an insurmountable barrier. And she pursues it anyway.’”

      However, perhaps the most profound challenge depicted in the film is an existential one: Do we genuinely have control over anyone, including ourselves?

      Nicholas Pinnock, who plays Judge Roland, seems to believe otherwise, particularly regarding the formidable Hedda.

      “His primary struggle is trying to exert control over her and engage with her, but he cannot prevail. He desires to control everything in his environment and does what he can through George behind the scenes, but he simply cannot manage this woman,” Pinnock explained to the Toronto audience.

      So, how did these profound themes influence Thompson’s portrayal of Hedda?

      “I felt liberated by the understanding that we were creating something distinct. It was inspired by the original material, but it stood on its own. There’s a reason why Hedda Gabler has fascinated audiences for so long,” Thompson shared.

      Hedda had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival and will hit theaters on October 22 before becoming available for streaming on Prime Video on October 29.

      Main image: Tessa Thompson in Hedda. Prime Video.