Hamnet Cast 2026 – Explore the amazing story, confirmed release date, full cast lineup, trailer updates, and OTT streaming details. Stay updated with the latest news, plot insights, and production developments about this highly awaited adaptation only on CastAdda.com. Hamnet (2025) is a historical drama film directed and co-edited by Chloé Zhao, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Maggie O’Farrell.
It Based on O’Farrell’s 2020 novel, film explores the deep bond between Anne Hathaway (called Agnes Hathaway in the novel and film) and her husband William Shakespeare. It focuses on how the heartbreaking death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, shapes their lives and ultimately inspires Shakespeare’s iconic play Hamlet. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal play Agnes and William, with Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn appearing in supporting roles.
Hamnet Cast 2026
A short message at the beginning says that in old Stratford, the names “Hamnet” and “Hamlet” were used to mean the same thing. The story starts with Agnes Hathaway, who wears a red dress, walking alone in a forest. She holds out her glove and a hawk lands on it.
At the same time, William Shakespeare, who teaches Latin and wears an earring, leaves his class and goes to visit Agnes at her family’s barn. They talk for a bit and share a kiss, but then Agnes tells him to go home.
People in the town gossip about Agnes and call her the daughter of a forest witch. Agnes never tries to stop them from saying it. Her mother had taught her many things about herbs, including an old healing charm called the Nine Herbs Charm. Agnes even uses these herbs to heal a cut on William’s forehead. Sadly, her mother dies young while giving birth, and Agnes is taken in by another family.
When Agnes grows up, she spends a lot of time in the forest. There is a strange cave there that she often visits. William comes to see her, and he tells her the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. While they talk, Agnes holds his hand and tells him that he will become someone important. She also has a vision of herself with two children.
Agnes and William grow very close, and soon Agnes becomes pregnant. Their families are not happy about them getting married, but the two still decide to marry each other.Agnes gives birth to their first child, Susanna, in the woods. William and Agnes’s brother, Bartholomew, find her there and see that both she and the baby are healthy.
William’s father, John, is a tough businessman. He often calls William “worthless” and tries to force him to stay and do hard work..Agnes sees William trying hard to write but becoming frustrated. She understands that he needs to go to London to follow his dream of working in the theater. She lets him go, even though she stays behind in Stratford with their child.
Agnes is pregnant again, and William’s mother, Mary, does not let her go into the woods. Agnes suffers a lot during childbirth and gives birth to a boy named Hamnet. Soon after, she delivers a baby girl, Judith. At first, Judith looks like she is not alive, and Agnes cries that the baby won’t go to heaven because she doesn’t have enough faith. But then, suddenly, the baby starts breathing and lives.
Hamnet and Judith grow up very close, and they even trick William by dressing like each other when he comes home. The three children love pretending to be the witches from the play Macbeth, which makes their parents laugh. Agnes believes Hamnet will do great things, and Hamnet dreams of being a swordsman in his father’s theater plays.
William becomes successful, and the family is able to buy the biggest house in all of Stratford.
Watch Here: Akhanda 2 Cast 2025 , Sidelined 2 Intercepted Cast 2025 , Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Cast 2025 , Prisoner 951 Cast 2025
William watches a puppet show in London about the plague taking people away. Back in Stratford, Judith catches the plague and becomes very sick. Hamnet remembers a past story about a dead bird and tries to give Judith hope. He even lies down next to her and says he wishes he could take her place. Judith slowly gets better, but then Hamnet becomes sick instead.
Hamnet imagines himself in an empty house, calling for his mother. He suffers a lot, and then he dies. Agnes screams in pain when she realizes he is gone. William comes home from London and sees that his son is dead.
Agnes gets angry at William for planning to return to London even after Hamnet’s death. They fight, but later they make peace with each other. After this, Agnes discovers she can no longer see or sense the future.
Agnes argues with her adoptive mother and even says she is not her “real” mother. Her mother sadly gives her a small pamphlet that says a play called “The Tragedy of Hamlet” will be performed in London. Agnes hardly reacts and does not seem interested.
In London, William is busy rehearsing the play. He gets upset because the actors are not showing enough emotion. To teach them, he performs the lines himself and shows them how the scene should feel.
Hamnet Cast & Crew List
| Name | Role / Character / Credit |
|---|---|
| Chloé Zhao | Screenplay |
| Maggie O’Farrell | Screenplay / Novel “Hamnet” |
| Jessie Buckley | Agnes |
| Paul Mescal | Will |
| Zac Wishart | Joan’s Boy 1 |
| James Lintern | Joan’s Boy 2 |
| Joe Alwyn | Bartholomew |
| Justine Mitchell | Joan |
| Eva Wishart | Joan’s Girl 1 |
| Effie Linnen | Joan’s Girl 2 |
| Emily Watson | Mary |
| David Wilmot | John |
| Freya Hannan‑Mills | Eliza |
| Dainton Anderson | Edmond |
| Louisa Harland | Rowan |
| Elliot Baxter | Richard |
| Faith Delaney | Young Agnes |
| Smylie Bradwell | Young Bartholomew |
| Laura Guest | Midwife |
| John Mackay | Priest |
| Jacobi Jupe | Hamnet |
| Olivia Lynes | Judith |
| Bodhi Rae Breathnach | Susanna |
| Albert McCormick | Boy in Window |
| Eliah Arnstjerna | Drum Player |
| Edward Anderson | Flute Player |
| Noah Jupe | Hamlet |
| El Simons | Ophelia |
| Sam Woolf | Bernardo |
| Hera Gibson | Francisco |
| Jack Shalloo | Marcellus |
| Raphael Goold | Horatio |
| Shaun Mason | Claudius |
| Matthew Tennyson | Gertrude |
| Clay Milner Russell | Laertes |
| Javier Marzan | Fool |
Hamnet Movie Official Trailer
Hamnet Movie Release Date & OTT
In August 2024, Focus Features bought the US distribution rights for Hamnet, while its parent company, Universal Pictures, will handle distribution in other countries. The film had its world premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on 29 August 2025. In July 2025, it was announced as part of the Gala Presentations at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award.
The movie was also shown in the non-competitive ‘Grand public’ section of the 20th Rome Film Festival in October 2025, in the official selection at the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival on 27 October 2025 for its Spanish premiere, and it closed the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival on 5 November 2025.
Hamnet had a limited release in the United States on 26 November 2025, before a wide release on 5 December 2025. It will later release in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2026, and in Australia on 15 January 2026.
- Given it is distributed by Focus Features (Universal Pictures), the most likely OTT home will be Peacock in the USA after its theatrical run.
- In the UK and other regions, it may stream later on platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, depending on licensing deals.
- Expected Window: Universal films typically move to streaming 45–90 days after theatrical release, so Hamnet should arrive on OTT
Hamnet Cast Production
A stage version of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel was announced in November 2022. The film rights were bought even before the book was published by Liza Marshall and her company Hera Pictures, who later teamed up with Neal Street Productions. In April 2023, Chloé Zhao was hired to direct the film and to co-write the screenplay with O’Farrell.
About: Hamnet
Hamnet is a historical drama directed by Chloé Zhao, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel. The film explores the deep bond between Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley) and her husband William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), focusing on the tragic death of their 11‑year‑old son Hamnet. This loss profoundly shapes their lives and ultimately inspires Shakespeare’s masterpiece Hamlet.
FAQs: Hamnet
Q: When did Hamnet premiere?
Ans:
World Premiere: 52nd Telluride Film Festival – 29 August 2025
Toronto International Film Festival: September 2025 (won People’s Choice Award)
Rome Film Festival: October 2025
Valladolid International Film Festival (Spain): 27 October 2025
Tokyo International Film Festival: 5 November 2025 (closing film)
Q: What is the theatrical release schedule?
Ana:
United States (limited): 26 November 2025
United States (wide): 5 December 2025
United Kingdom: 9 January 2026
Australia: 15 January 2026
Q: Why is the title Hamnet important?
Ans: In old Stratford, “Hamnet” and “Hamlet” were interchangeable names. The film highlights how the death of Shakespeare’s son Hamnet directly inspired the creation of Hamlet, one of the greatest plays in history.
Q: What makes Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal’s performances special?
Ans: Critics have praised their chemistry and emotional depth. Buckley brings strength and mysticism to Agnes, while Mescal portrays Shakespeare as both vulnerable and ambitious, torn between family and theater.
Q: Did the film receive awards at festivals?
Ans: Yes. Hamnet won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2025, signaling strong audience resonance.
