Hamlet is ultimately based on the story of Amleth, which is found in a medieval Danish history by Saxo Grammaticus. Although called a history, the Amleth story, as recorded by Saxo, certainly contains more myth and legend than fact.
Shakespeare's Hamlet, and Saxo's Amleth, are quite different in important respects, but the story lines are roughly similar, and Hamlet has a number of incidental details that appeared earlier in 'Amleth.'
A French writer, Francois de Belleforest, translated Saxo's story of Amleth into French in 1570, and it probably entered English cultural consciousness via that French translation.
There is a reference from 1589 to an English stage version of Hamlet, although it's very doubtful that play was the same one we have now. The earlier 'Hamlet' (called ur-Hamlet) is traditionally ascribed to Thomas Kyd, although some scholars have opined it might have been by Shakespeare.
The best guess seems to be that Shakespeare's company obtained the earlier English 'Hamlet', in the mid-1590's, and Shakespeare then reworked it, to make it into the play we have now, as published in the Second Quarto of 1604-1605, and later in the First Folio of 1623.
So, according to current thinking, Hamlet probably developed by way of the following path:
Saxo's Amleth - >
Belleforest's translation ->
An English play by Kyd - >
Shakespeare's Hamlet.
One of Tom Stoppard's most famous plays, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is loosely based on Hamlet; except it is an absurdist play with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's as the main characters instead of Hamlet. Another Stoppard play, Dogg's Hamlet (Cahoot's Macbeth) also has a basis in Shakespeare's play Hamlet. The people in the play are rehearsing for a production of Hamlet in English, which to them is a foreign language.
The play by Tom Stoppard which is, perhaps, based most on Hamlet is his work: 15-Minute Hamlet. It is an extremely condensed version of Shakespeare's play. It includes all of the most well known scenes, and cuts out much of the action.
Hamlet gives his "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. Hamlet tells Ophelia, "Get thee to a nunnery!" Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he prays. Hamlet kills Polonius.
Hamlet is set at Elsinore Castle, Denmark, which is based on the real Kronborg Castle.
It ought to be.
Disney based the Lion King loosely around the plot of Hamlet- missing some vital plot points nevertheless.
Like Hamlet, we all have difficulty translating thought to action, but I have learned that this problem gets easier the better you know who you are.
No, it was based on Shakespeare's Hamlet
Hamlet gives his "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. Hamlet tells Ophelia, "Get thee to a nunnery!" Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he prays. Hamlet kills Polonius.
Hamlet is set at Elsinore Castle, Denmark, which is based on the real Kronborg Castle.
It ought to be.
The Lion King
I can tell you that the Lion King is based off of Hamlet.
The ghost of Hamlet's father appears to the watchmen. Hamlet's mother encourages Hamlet to act happy. Hamlet is asked to avenge his father's death. Hamlet tells his friends not to be surprised if it seems like he's acting crazy.
West Side Story is based on Romeo and Juliet Kiss me Kate is based on the Taming of the Shrew The Boys from Syracuse is based on A Comedy of Errors Your Own Thing is based on The Twelfth Night Two Gentlemen of Verona is based on (duh!) Two Gentlemen of Verona The Lion King is based on Hamlet :-) Another Midsummer Night is based on Midsummer Night's Dream Rockabye Hamlet is also based on Hamlet (but didn't run NEARLY as long as Lion King - only 1 week LOL).
Hamlet, released in 1991, directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starring Mel Gibson, and Hamlet, released in 1996, directed and starring Kenneth Branagh, leap to mind.
Disney based the Lion King loosely around the plot of Hamlet- missing some vital plot points nevertheless.
no its based of Shakespeare's hamlet, and an African Tale
He probably borrowed the the plot from an earlier play.