New Hamnet images reveal a better look at its two lead stars. From Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), who co-wrote the script with Maggie O’Farrell based on her 2020 novel of the same name, the upcoming historical drama follows a fictionalized story about the life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Shakespeare, after the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet.
The Hamnet cast is led by two Oscar nominees in Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter) as William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes. Also starring are Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew, two-time Oscar nominee Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves, Hilary and Jackie) as Mary, Jacobi Jupe as Hamnet, Jack Shalloo as Marcellus, and David Wilmot as John.
Now, via Vanity Fair, a total of six new images from Hamnet were revealed. The images show a mix of Jessie Buckley’s Agnes in various settings, Paul Mescal’s William Shakespeare, and the three Shakespeare children. Check out the six images in the slideshow below:
What The Hamnet Images Mean For The Movie
Out of the six new images from Hamnet, half of them are of Jessie Buckley’s Agnes, highlighting just how integral she is to the story. Drawing from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, the film places its focus not on The Bard, brought to life by a compelling Paul Mescal, nor even his son, whose name the film bears.
Instead, the story centers on Agnes, Shakespeare’s perceptive wife, portrayed with captivating depth by Jessie Buckley, who, based on the images, infuses the narrative with her warmth. While grief runs through the film, Hamnet is far more a meditation on loss itself.
Based on the first Hamnet image that was released, the early depiction of Agnes and William’s courtship feels organic, heightened by sumptuous cinematography. Like many family tales, the film balances sorrow with moments of genuine joy.
Our Take On The Hamnet Images
Based on all the images that have been released thus far, Hamnet looks like a lush and tender drama told through the eyes of Agnes Shakespeare, similar to Chloé Zhao’s quietly powerful Nomadland, which won her two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. Much like Nomadland, Hamnet seems to thrive on stillness and emotion.
As a result, Hamnet seems to reshape Shakespeare into something more tangible, stripping away the myth in favor of a more profound intimacy. In Hamnet, Shakespeare doesn’t seem to be an untouchable genius, but a husband and father whose art grew out of love and grief. Every image radiates sensitivity, promising a film where personal loss and literary legacy feel inseparably intertwined.
Hamnet will receive a limited theatrical release on November 27 before expanding nationwide on December 12.