Everything We Know About Hamnet, Chloé Zhao's Movie About Shakespeare's Wife
That's no spelling mistake — "Hamnet" is a film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel of the same name, not a new movie version of William Shakespeare's famous stage play tragedy "Hamlet" (although the two are related, as we'll get into shortly). The film is being developed by Chloé Zhao, herself coming off multiple Oscars wins for her adaptation of the non-fiction book "Nomadland." Her other credits include "Songs My Brother Taught Me" and "The Rider," both of which have quasi-documentary qualities similar to those of "Nomadland."
More recently, Zhao directed "Eternals" — a cosmic gumbo of a superhero epic that, say what you might against it, is one of most visually-accomplished and emotionally-grounded Marvel Cinematic Universe films to date. (Not to mention, perhaps the only one so far to make theology a theme in a franchise where literal gods exist.) The point being, Zhao always aspires to make art that is both emotionally and technically complex, and "Hamnet" is certainly a good match for her sensibilities.
While we're still awaiting some key information at the time of writing (including the production timeline and release date), here's everything we know about "Hamnet" so far.
What is Hamnet about?
The novel "Hamnet" is a work of historical fiction centered on Agnes, a supposed "healer" with a firmer grasp on plants than people. As a young woman in the 16th-century, Agnes falls in love with a playwright who is never named but is clearly meant to be William Shakespeare — or, rather, this universe's version of The Bard. The story shifts back and forth in time from the early days of the pair's passionate courtship to 15 years later, when tragedy befalls their 11-year-old son Hamnet. This event will inspire the boy's father to concoct a play titled, well, you-know-what, leaving Agnes to grieve in her own fashion.
Shakespeare's real-life son Hamnet was also the subject of Kenneth Branagh's "All Is True," a mostly fictional movie in which the newly-retired Bard (Branagh) attempts to rekindle ties with his daughters and wife, Anne Hathaway (yes, that's her actual name). Whereas that film sees Shakespeare taking stock of his life and confronting the — at times literal — ghosts of his past, "Hamnet" is, as NPR's review of the book puts it, "a love story about a sorely tested marriage." Between its tumultuous romance and Malickian themes of spirituality and nature, one can see why Chloé Zhao was drawn to the material.
The Hamnet cast and crew
According to Deadline, Chloé Zhao will direct "Hamnet" from a script she's writing with Maggie O'Farrell, with Amblin Partners, Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions, and Book of Shadows backing the film. Producers include Pippa Harris and Sam Mendes for Neal Street, along with Liza Marshall for Hera Pictures. Nic Gonda will also executive produce for Book of Shadows.
So far, the "Hamnet" cast is shaping up to be just as exciting as the creative team, with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in talks to star. Appropriately enough, both are up-and-comers who received their first acting Oscar nods for films dealing with themes of parentage and memory similar to those in O'Farrell's source material — Buckley for "The Lost Daughter" and Mescal for "Aftersun." That bodes well for them teaming up with Zhao, as does the latter's return to the world of lower budgets and greater creative freedom that she really seems to thrive in (although I still maintain that "Eternals" is better than some give it credit for).
/Film will bring you more updates on "Hamnet" as they come our way, so be sure and keep your eyes on this space in the future!