The movie will receive a limited Thanksgiving release on November 27th.
On November 18, Chloé Zhao's Hamnet held its Los Angeles premiere at The Academy Museum in Los Angeles. The screening was preceded by an introduction by Producer Steven Spielberg and the film’s Director, Co-Writer, and Co-Editor Chloé Zhao. Take a look at photos from the evening below.
They were joined by the film’s stars Jessie Buckley, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, Noah Jupe, Producers Nic Gonda and Liza Marshall, Co-Editor Affonso Gonçalves, Composer Max Richter, Sound Designer Johnnie Burn, Production Designer Fiona Crombie, and Costume Designer Malgosia Turzanska.
Also in attendance were special guests Charli XCX, Sean Baker, Casey Affleck, Amanda Gorman, Christina Hendricks, Mamie Gummer, Zoe Lister-Jones, Peyton List, Zosia Mamet, Timothy Olyphant, Daniel Scheinert, Jeremy Scott, Diana Silvers, Zelda Williams, and more.
Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, starring Paul Mescal, Olivier Award-winner Jessie Buckley, Emily Watson, and Joe Alwyn, will receive a limited Thanksgiving release on November 27th, ahead of a wide release beginning on December 12th. It previously won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
The movie tells of the love story between William (Mescal) and Agnes (Buckley) Shakespeare during the 16th century, along with their beloved son Hamnet. But before too long, tragedy strikes the family, resulting in heartbreak that serves as inspiration for his play Hamlet.
Hamnet is based on Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 New York Times bestselling novel, which has sold 2 million copies in the UK and US and has been translated into 40 languages. O'Farrell worked with Zhao on the film's screenplay. The book has also been adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabarti, and was recently played in the West End in a production directed by Erica Whyman.
Photo Credit: Eric Charbonneau

Joe Alwyn

Joe Alwyn

Chloé Zhao

Diana Silvers

Lukita Maxwell

Writer/director Chloé Zhao (L) and producer Steven Spielberg

Producer Steven Spielberg, writer/director Chloé Zhao

(L-R) Joe Alwyn, producer Steven Spielberg, writer/director Chloé Zhao, Jessie Buckley, Jacobi Jupe and Noah Jupe

Producer Steven Spielberg, writer/director Chloé Zhao and Jessie Buckley

Producer Steven Spielberg, writer/director Chloé Zhao, Jessie Buckley and Peter Kujawski, Chairman of Focus Features

Producer Steven Spielberg (L) and Peter Kujawski, Chairman of Focus Features

Producer Nic Gonda (L) and writer/director Chloé Zhao

Chloé Zhao



Daphne Le

Lex Nikolajev

Megan Cruz

Natasha Polis

Addison Briann

Jessica Lucero

Nicole Kang

Caylee Cowan

Alisha Wainwright

Amanda Gorman

Bailee MyKell (L) and Clifton Collins Jr.

Bailee MyKell (L) and Clifton Collins Jr.

Johnnie Burn

Johnnie Burn

Composer Max Richter

Joe Alwyn

Joe Alwyn
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