Paul Mescal Becomes Shakespeare in First Teaser for Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet'
Paul Mescal stars as Shakespeare in the first ‘Hamnet’ teaser, Chloé Zhao’s new film premiering at TIFF and in theaters this fall.
Paul Mescal is stepping into Shakespeare’s world in the first teaser for Hamnet, released August 26, 2025. The Aftersun star plays William Shakespeare opposite 
Jessie Buckley as Agnes, his wife, in a story centered on the death of their son Hamnet and the grief that later shaped Hamlet. The teaser sets the tone with an intimate exchange: Agnes asks Shakespeare for a story, and he replies, “What story would you like?”
Directed by two-time Oscar winner 
Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), the film adapts Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling 2020 novel, which has sold over 2 million copies and been translated into 40 languages. O’Farrell co-wrote the script with Zhao, keeping the adaptation close to the source. The cast also includes 
Emily Watson and 
Joe Alwyn.
Hamnet premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival in September before opening in select U.S. theaters on November 27 and expanding nationwide December 12 via Focus Features.