Set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Essex Rebellion against her, the story advances the theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford who penned Shakespeare's plays.

• Centropolis Entertainment
• Columbia Pictures
• Jamie Campbell Bower
• Rhys Ifans
• David Thewlis
• Joely Richardson
• Vanessa Redgrave
• Sebastian Armesto
• Rafe Spall
• Edward Hogg