Watch Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley in the tragic Hamnet trailer

Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for the eagerly awaited period drama Hamnet. Hot properties Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Jessie Buckley (Men) star in this adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, and you can watch the trailer below.

Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) pairs with O’Farrell on the screenplay for this sweeping tale of romance and heartbreak. The movie spins a fictional tale around the younger William Shakespeare (Mescal) and his wife Agnes (Buckley), detailing the tragic death of their young son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe).

Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes act as the producers through Spielberg’s Amblin label. The illustrious list of credits also includes cinematographer Łukasz Żal (The Zone of Interest) and composer Max Richter (Ad Astra).

Hamnet will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 7th and is being positioned as a major Oscars contender for the 2026 awards season.

Synopsis: HAMNET: From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, Hamnet tells the powerful love story that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Hamnet is released in the UK on 9th January, 2026.

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