A brutal civil war has erupted in England, with the Houses of Lancaster and York battling for control of the throne. Amid the turmoil, the despotic Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Ian McKellen) plots his own route to power, deviously scheming a murderous agenda that will lead to his installation as dictator monarch. Steeped in fascist iconography, the film openly draws from the aesthetic of the Third Reich, a stylistic choice that emphasizes the pure evil at the heart of Richard's agenda. Adapted by Ian McKellen and Richard Loncraine, from the National Theatre's acclaimed stage production by Richard Eyre, Richard III features an all-star cast, including Kristin Scott Thomas, Robert Downey Jr., Annette Bening and Maggie Smith.