Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn to retell Hamlet

Author to give modern twist to mark Shakespeare's 400th anniversary

Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn (Heidi Jo Brady)

Gillian Flynn, author of the bestselling thriller Gone Girl, is to write a modern twist on Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The author will write her version of the well-known tragedy as part of a project for the forthcoming Hogarth Shakespeare series.

The series, which will feature re-tellings of Shakespeare’s plays from other authors, will be released in 2016 to mark the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death.

Flynn, whose popular novel touches on the play’s themes of deception and madness, said: “Hamlet has long been a fascination of mine: murder, betrayal, revenge, deceit, madness ‒ all my favorite things.

"Add to that some of Shakespeare’s most intriguing, curious characters ‒ from the titular brooding prince to rueful Ophelia ‒ and what (slightly cheeky) writer wouldn’t be tempted to reimagine it?”

Flynn joins a previously announced list of authors who will write their own takes on Shakespeare’s plays for the series.

The list includes Margaret Atwood (The Tempest), Tracy Chevalier (Othello), Howard Jacobson (The Merchant of Venice), Jo Nesbo (Macbeth), Anne Tyler (The Taming of the Shrew) and Jeanette Winterson (The Winter’s Tale).

A publication date for Flynn’s contribution to the anniversary anthology has yet to be announced.

Gone Girl, Flynn’s third novel, has sold almost 6.5 million copies since its publication in 2012.

An adaptation of the thriller is underway, featuring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in the lead roles.

Flynn has penned the script to the film, which is reported to have a different ending from the book.

Read more: Watch the Gone Girl trailer