"Hamlet" is officially opening today on Broadway, and British screen babe Jude Law will be tackling the difficult and legendary role of the tortured Danish Prince. We're sure it is a casting decision that Mr. William Shakespeare would approve of.
Luckily we got to check out the play on Sunday, and Jude was perfection. Well, the whole cast was quite good actually. But, Jude really gets Hamlet. He not only looks like the Hamlet we've pictured in our head, but he brought the angst and torment vital to the role. Plus the costuming and stage design were decidedly modern and austere, even though the setting is, as we all know, supposed to be in a time long, long ago.
Aesthetics aside, "Hamlet" gives you the chance to stare at the amazing Jude Law for three-and-a-half hours — though seeing Jude step into the royal's shoes made us wonder about the other hotties who have tackled the same Shakespearean character.
Back in the day, thespians and hotties of their time like Sir Laurence Olivier and Richard Burton took on the part of Hamlet. Then came along more modern lookers who tried to dethrone their older counterparts.
Long before Jude took the Broadway stage, Ralph Fiennes took to the Great White Way to play the part in 1995. Then in 1996, Kenneth Branagh tried to upstage Ralph in all his Hamletness by making a movie version of the classic Shakespearian tale. And, in case you're wondering, he did the role justice.
Of course there was Mel Gibson in the 90s (his movie poster is pictured, right), who not only made teens want to watch the flick, but also was such a notable turn in the long-storied history of the play that it was even referenced in "Clueless." We think we remember Mel Gibson accurately, OK?
Then again in 2000, a modern-retelling of the classic tale was played by Ethan Hawke. Set in Manhattan, Ethan brought his indie-cred demeanor to the role. He had already tackled "Great Expectations" two years earlier, so he was definitely in the headspace of playing hot literary figures.
So, who is the hottest Hamlet? Does Jude Law win?
** Hollywood Crush Twitter