Chloe Zhao has finally unveiled the official trailer of her upcoming period drama ‘Hamnet’, offering a stirring glimpse into the world of William Shakespeare, not as the celebrated playwright, but as a grieving father. Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling 2020 novel, the film stars Paul Mescal as Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley as his wife, Agnes Hathaway, tracing a love story shadowed by loss.
After earning glowing reviews at the Telluride Film Festival and taking home the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, ‘Hamnet’ has quickly emerged as an early Oscars frontrunner. The film will release in select US theatres on November 27, followed by a wider rollout on December 12.
Set in 16th-century England, ‘Hamnet’ reimagines the tender and tragic relationship between Shakespeare and Agnes, whose 11-year-old son, Hamnet (played by Jacobi Jupe), dies unexpectedly. The narrative explores how this devastating loss shaped Shakespeare’s later works, particularly Hamlet, blending history, emotion, and imagination into a deeply personal portrait of the artist behind the legend.
Watch the trailer here:
The cast also features Emily Watson as Shakespeare’s mother and Joe Alwyn as Agnes’ brother. In a touching detail, Jacobi Jupe stars opposite his real-life brother, Noah Jupe, who appears in a cameo role.
Behind the scenes, ‘Hamnet’ brings together an impressive lineup of producers, including Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Sam Mendes, and Steven Spielberg. The film marks a collaboration between Focus Features and Amblin Entertainment, adding to its prestige.
Zhao, a two-time Academy Award winner best known for ‘Nomadland’ and ‘Eternals’, co-wrote the screenplay with Maggie O’Farrell, giving the story a cinematic depth while retaining the emotional core of the novel.
