Oscar winner Chloe Zhao to helm adaptation of 'Hamnet'

Los Angeles: Oscar winner Chloe Zhao has set her next feature directorial project with the adaptation of Irish author Maggie O’Farrell's novel "Hamnet'.

The movie comes from ‘Amblin Partners’, ‘Hera Pictures’, ‘Neal Street Productions’ and ‘Book of Shadows’, according to the entertainment news website ‘Variety’.

Published in 2020, the novel became a ‘New York Times’ bestseller. It follows the story of William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes as she grieves the death of her only son, 11-year-old Hamnet, to the bubonic plague.

The novel also traces the beginnings of Agnes’ relationship with young Shakespeare, who is never named, known only as the world’s most famous playwright.

Zhao, who won the Oscar for best director for her 2020 movie "Nomadland", will pen the script for "Hamnet" with O’Farrell.

Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris and Sam Mendes are producing, with Nic Gonda executive producing for ‘Book of Shadows’.