1 of 6 | Paul Mescal, seen at a New York screening of “Gladiator II” in November, stars in “Hamnet.” File Photo by Serena XuNing/UPI | License Photo
Focus Features released a trailer for the historical drama Hamnet on Tuesday. The film opens Nov. 27 but will first play at the Toronto International Film Festival Sept. 7.
Writer/director Chloé Zhao adapted Maggie O’Farrell’s novel with O’Farrell. The film stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.
O’Farrell’s book is about Agnes (Buckley), the wife of a playwright (Mescal) who she does not name, but is based on William Shakespeare. When their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, dies, the writer bases a play on him. That play is Hamlet.
The trailer shows a stage production with sword fighting, Shakespeare practicing swords with his son (Jacobi Jupe), a program for Hamlet, as well as Agnes and the playwright’s romance.
Zhao won the Best Director Oscar for Nomadland, which also won Best Picture.
