Watch the First Look at Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet'

It would be difficult for most individuals to compile an extensive list of the numerous film versions that the works of English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare have undergone throughout history. Starting with historically accurate interpretations of Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth to modern adaptations like The Lion King (inspired by Hamlet ) and 10 Reasons Why I Dislike Her (based on The Taming of the Shrew ), his enduring creations remain a source of motivation for writers, scriptwriters, and artists—and now, the iconic author takes center stage in an Academy Award-winning filmmaker’s production. Chloé Zhao ’s upcoming drama Hamnet .

On August 26, Focus Features unveiled the official preview for the upcoming movie, featuring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley starring William and Agnes Shakespeare, respectively. Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 book with the same title, Hamnet Follows Shakespeare and his wife as they mourn the sudden death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet. The movie focuses on the couple's heartbreaking romance and how Shakespeare later came to create Hamlet . Below you can view the complete trailer.

Tell me a tale," Agnes from Buckley says at the beginning of the trailer. "Which one do you want?" asks William, played by Mescal, and his wife replies, "A story that touches you.

Mescal and Buckley are accompanied by Emily Watson and Joe Alayna, completing the main cast. Zhao collaborated with O’Farrell on writing the script, whereas Zhao, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes, Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Laurie Borg are among the numerous producers listed. Hamnet provided by Amblin Entertainment, Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions, and Book of Shadows. Following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival next month, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter , Hamnet will have a restricted theatrical launch on November 27, 2025, followed by a wide-scale release across the country on December 12.

Chloé Zhao is eager to bring the heart-wrenching romance to the silver screen.

Hamnet notes Zhao's comeback to the director's seat following Marvel’s Eternals released in cinemas in 2021. Before that, the filmmaker who was born in China made history at the 2021 Oscars as she became the first woman of color and the first Asian woman to receive the Academy Award for Best Director for her contribution to the 2020 movie Nomadland .

In a special conversation with Vanity Fair , Zhao explained how he worked on Eternals got her ready to face enabled her to confront equipped her to handle readied her to deal with trained her to tackle empowered her to manage organized her to address fortified her to cope with mobilized her to encounter strengthened her to overcome Hamnet , telling the publication:

Eternals helped prepare me for 'Hamnet' since it involved building a whole world. Previously, I had worked on movies set in the real world. I also gained insight into what works and doesn't work — what feels authentic and what doesn't. In 'Eternals,' there was essentially limitless funding and resources. Here, though, we only have one street corner that we can use as a stand-in for Stratford... In 'Eternals,' there weren't many restrictions, which can be pretty risky. Now that we're limited to just this single street corner in 'Hamnet,' every detail takes on significant importance.

She continued by sharing her initial thoughts on the original work, saying, "I was really amazed by how engaging and sensory the book is—and that’s not all; the way the book is written closely mirrors my own editing rhythm. Maggie possesses a distinctive style of writing. It seems as though pictures are being edited right before my eyes as I read."