AceShowbiz - Hedda recaptures the spirit of Hedda Gabler, but makes some very impactful changes to the source material. Written by the legendary playwright Henrik Ibsen and first staged in 1891, Hedda Gabler has been regarded as a masterpiece of theatre for over a century. It also serves as the direct inspiration for Hedda, Nia DaCosta's very modern take on the material.

While much of the spirit of the original is still alive in the film, Hedda's ending makes some pretty big shifts from the other plays. Other elements have been changed in the adaptation, including a gender-swap that adds a lot of new layers to the material. One notable change is the reimagining of Eilert as Eileen, a gender-swap that adds new dimensions to the character, as well as her relationship with Hedda and Thea.

Eileen openly admits that she's faced extra scrutiny in the academic world as a result of her gender, giving her more motivation to rage against the system than Eilert. Eileen's former romance with Hedda and her relationship with Thea are now hidden due to the prejudices of the time, adding another reason why the societal-minded Hedda ended their relationship. This change plays into the themes of the story and Hedda's struggles with her personal freedom, reflected in the challenges Eileen faces as a woman in a male-dominated field.

Another significant change is the way the film takes the plot of the play and compresses it into a single evening. In Hedda Gabler, there are various events happening throughout the story that take place over several days. In contrast, Hedda condenses these events into one night, creating a more intense and dramatic experience for the audience.