Irish novelist Maggie O’Farrell garnered widespread acclaim for her debut novel ‘After You’d Gone’, and the numerous books that followed. However, one of her most notable works remains 2020’s Women’s Prize and National Critics Award Winning title ‘Hamnet’.
The fictional account follows William Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, who died at age eleven in 1596. The novel explores the impact of his untimely death through the vantage of his parents’ grief. After already being adapted as a stage show by Lolita Chakrabarti, the acclaimed book is now one of the most anticipated upcoming feature adaptations. The feature was officially announced back in January 2024.
Chloé Zhao, the Academy Award winning director of Nomadland, set to direct Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as the lead duo William Shakespeare – Agnes Hathaway will be joined by Oscar-nominated Polish cinematographer Lukasz Zal to help aid with filming. Zal is best known for his work on the films ‘Ida’, ‘Loving Vincent’, ‘Cold War’ and ‘The Zone of Interest’.
Best recognized by his compelling and introspective narratives, Zal’s unique storytelling methods will serve as the best addition to a tale about, perhaps, the most complex human emotion of them all: grief. While he has no other disclosed projects in the works, ‘Hamnet’, seems to be a perfect option for fans of thought-provoking cinema!