Focus Features Snags Chloe Zhao's Adaptation of 'Hamnet'

Historical novels about William Shakespeare aren't uncommon; however, Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 fictionalization of Shakespeare's real-life family tragedy, stood out as head and shoulders above the others in the genre from its initial release. Shakespeare and his wife only ever had one son, Hamlette Sadler Shakespeare, known to the family as Hamnet, born in 1585 as one-half of fraternal twins with his sister, Judith Shakespeare. Besides his passing away at 11 years old, little is known about Hamnet (including how he died, as the cause was not recorded). From this tiny nugget of information, O'Farrell spun a heartwrenching tale of parental grief that led to the Bard's most enduring work, Hamlet.

Told through the eyes of Shakespeare's wife, Agnes Hathaway, the book begins as William and Agnes settle in Henley Street, Stratford, and begin a family: first-born daughter Susanna is followed by twins Hamnet and Judith. As William's success as a playwright takes him to London more and more often, Agnes winds up raising the three alone until Hamnet's passing in 1596. (It is estimated that up to one-third of all children born in the U.K. in the late 1500s died by age 10.)

The Royal Shakespeare Company was quick to sign for the right to adapt O'Farrell's novel into a stage play, which became the new work to re-open the refurbished Swan Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon in 2023 after the pandemic forced it to remain closed for the better part of three years. The show then transferred to London's West End, where it played at the Garrick Theatre. During this period, reports surfaced that director Chloe Zhao had selected Hamnet to be her next feature film project, with Jessie Buckley (The Woman in White) as Agnes and Paul Mescal (Normal People) as Shakespeare.

Here's the synopsis of the novel:

The New York Times bestselling historical fiction novel imagines the story of Agnes – the wife of the world’s most famous writer, William Shakespeare – as she struggles to come to terms with the loss of her only son, Hamnet. The novel charts the emotional, familial, and artistic consequences of that loss, bringing to life a human and heart-stopping story as the backdrop to the creation of The Bard’s Hamlet.

As part of the announcement that Focus Features is boarding the film, the production revealed Buckley and Mescal will be joined by Joe Alwyn (The Favourite) as Agnes' brother and Emily Watson (The Third Day) as her mother-in-law to round out the lead ensemble. More cast is expected to be announced in due course.

Director Chloe Zhao co-adapted the script with author Maggie O’Farrell. Liza Marshall of Hera Pictures, Pippa Harris, and Sam Mendes are producing on behalf of Neal Street; Nic Gonda is executive producing on behalf of Book of Shadows. Jeb Brody, Steven Spielberg, and Mia Maniscalco will oversee the project for Amblin.

Hamnet is currently filming in Wales and is expected to arrive in theaters in 2025.