‘Hamnet’: Chloé Zhao to direct adaptation of novel about Shakespeare’s wife
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao has been tapped to direct the onscreen adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel “Hamnet.”
Zhao and O’Farrell will work together on the upcoming film’s script, Deadline reported. Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris and “1917” director Sam Mendes will be on board to produce, while Nic Gonda will executive produce.
“Hamnet” tells the story of Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, who grieves the loss of their only son, Hamnet.
While O’Farrell’s novel is historical fiction, Shakespeare did have a son named Hamnet who died in 1596 at 11 years old. In 1599, Shakespeare would go on to write one of his most popular plays: “Hamlet.”
Zhao, who directed the 2020 drama film “Nomadland” and the 2021 Marvel film “Eternals,” already has several projects in development.
For “Nomadland,” the 41-year-old writer-director won the best picture and best director awards at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2021. Zhao notably became the first woman of color to win the best director award, as well as the second woman to ever receive it.
It is unclear if “Hamnet” will be her next immediate project.
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