First Look at 'Hamnet' — Why Chloe Zhao Is Skipping Venice (for Now)
A reimagining of Shakespeare’s family story through Zhao’s unique lens.
Chloe Zhao is back with Hamnet, and after her Marvel detour, I couldn’t resist finding out where she’d go next. She’s traded cosmic battles for the quiet intensity of 16th-century England, reimagining the life of William Shakespeare’s family during the Black Plague.
Once tipped for a Venice debut, the film will instead bow at Telluride before heading to Toronto — a switch already stirring chatter.
From Venice to Telluride
Venice often welcomes back its champions, and Zhao’s Nomadland won the Golden Lion in 2020. But Hamnet will skip the Lido, with whispers of mixed test-screening reactions. Whether that’s the full story or just festival gossip, Telluride and TIFF will now be its proving grounds.
Shakespeare in the Background
Set in plague-stricken 1580s England, the film follows Agnes — Shakespeare’s wife — in her son’s final days. The Bard is named only once, his absence underscored by Zhao’s bold close-ups and still overhead shots. Early praise for Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal suggests the risk may pay off.
