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Chloé Zhao's Hamnet, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal has become the talk of the town after it's debut at the Telluride Film Festival and the film now sits at a glowing 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, landing a perfect score on the site.
Directed by Zhao, this film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel reimagines the life of William Shakespeare through the lens of his wife, Agnes, portrayed by Jessie Buckley. Paul Mescal steps into the shoes of the Bard himself. Critics are raving about Buckley’s performance, calling it devastating and perfect.
But it's not just Buckley stealing the show. Mescal's Shakespeare is a man grappling with grief and creativity, and critics are here for it.
Mescal has a packed release schedule this year. Straight out of last year's Gladiator II, he has worked on Hamnet for this year, along with The History of Sound opposite Josh O'Connor.
As for Buckley, the actress was last seen alongside Olivia Colman in Wicked Little Letters. She's known for her portrayal of Juliet in a television play based on the tragedy drama, which means she is no stranger to Shakespeare.
More details about Hamnet
Joining Mescal and Buckley in the film is a stunning ensemble of stars. Faith Delaney portrays a younger self of Agnes, while Joe Alwyn appears as Agnes’s brother, Bartholomew Hathaway, with Smylie Bradwell playing his younger counterpart. Emily Watson steps in as Mary Shakespeare, William’s mother, and David Wilmot portrays John Shakespeare, his father.
Talking about his role, Paul Mescal told Vogue in January last year:
"That book—it’s just devastating. I can’t wait. If I told a younger version of myself that this would be [shooting] this year, I wouldn’t believe it. I’ve obviously been in a film with Jessie before [Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter], but we’ve never shared the screen or a working process together. I think she’s one of our present-day greats. And Chloé is somebody I can’t wait to get in the weeds with, and get into the heads of those characters."
Before Hamnet lit up Telluride with a rapturous premiere, its journey was already the stuff of cinematic legend. Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel had studios circling before it even hit shelves, with Liza Marshall’s Hera Pictures snapping up the rights and teaming with Neal Street Productions. By 2023, Chloé Zhao was on board to direct and co-write with O’Farrell, backed by none other than Steven Spielberg as producer.
Cameras finally rolled in Wales in July 2024, with Łukasz Żal crafting the visuals and Max Richter composing the score. Now, Focus Features is readied for its worldwide release later this year.
The film's official synopsis reads:
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"From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, Hamnet tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet."
Hamnet will be in theaters on 27 November 2025.
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