The creative team behind Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” gathered for a panel discussion as part of the Variety Screening Series to reveal the collaborative process that brought Maggie O’Farrell’s novel to life on screen.
The film follows Agnes (Jessie Buckley), the wife of a young William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), as she navigates motherhood in Stratford-upon-Avon while her husband pursues his theatrical ambitions in London. When their son Hamnet falls ill, the family faces devastating loss that inspires Shakespeare’s greatest work, “Hamlet.”
One theme surfaced repeatedly throughout the panel: Chloe Zhao’s directing style and leadership, which set the tone for the production from its earliest stages. “She’s so devoid of ego or any sense that she’s the boss and she’s in charge,” said casting director Nina Gold, who earned a shortlist nomination for her work. Gold was joined by the film’s costume designer Malgosia Turzanska,…