Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao’s next film, the Shakespearean drama Hamnet, has landed at Focus Features. The news comes just days after filming began on the film led by stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, with Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn new additions to the cast.
Steven Spielberg has also joined as a producer. The film is based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel about William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they cope with the death of their son Hamnet at the age of 11. Their grief and struggle set the backdrop for Shakespeare’s creation of Hamlet.
Zhao is directing from a script co-written with O’Farrell. This will be Zhao’s first film since the Marvel flop Eternals. She has directed multiple acclaimed films including The Rider and Nomadland, the latter winning Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
Filming has already begun on Hamnet, and you can find set photos here if you’re interested.
