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Focus Features has declared that Chloé Zhao’s film “Hamnet” will have a limited release on November 27th, coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday, before rolling out to a broader audience starting December 12th. Starring notable talents such as Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, and Joe Alwyn, the film is poised to attract significant attention.
“Hamnet,” directed and written by Zhao, explores the deeply moving love story that inspired one of Shakespeare’s most renowned works, “Hamlet.” The movie draws from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 bestselling novel, which has achieved remarkable success, with over 2 million copies sold across the UK and US alone and translations into 40 different languages. O’Farrell collaborated closely with Zhao on adapting the book into a screenplay. The novel has also found its way to the stage, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, and recently featured in a West End production directed by Erica Whyman. For those interested in theatrical interpretations, a review of the production can be found here.
In a recent interview with British Vogue, Mescal expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “That book – it’s just devastating. I can’t wait. If I told a younger version of myself that this would be shooting this year, I wouldn’t believe it. I’ve worked with Jessie before in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘The Lost Daughter,’ but we’ve never shared the screen or collaborated closely. I think she’s one of our present-day greats. And Chloé is someone I can’t wait to delve into the intricacies of the characters with.”
The narrative is set in Warwickshire in 1582, where Agnes Hathaway, a skilled healer, meets William Shakespeare, a Latin tutor. Their bond, fueled by unrecognized impulses, brings them together to form a family. As William ventures to London to carve his path in the theatre world, Agnes remains at home, raising their three children while serving as the unwavering pulse of his existence.
The tragic turn of events takes place when the plague claims the life of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet. This devastating loss forces both William and Agnes to confront their grief in solitude. Yet, from their profound suffering emerges a catalyst for extraordinary creativity and wonder.
Chicago
Shubert Theatre (Broadway)
Supermodel and entrepreneur Ashley Graham is now gracing Broadway in her role as “Roxie Hart” in the iconic musical “Chicago.” With a classic book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, alongside music by John Kander, this production is celebrated as the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. Set against the playful backdrop of the 1920s, “Chicago” tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub performer who commits murder when her lover threatens to leave her. In a desperate bid to dodge conviction, she manipulates public opinion, the media, and her fellow inmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring the city’s most cunning lawyer, turning her heinous act into a sensational news story—a plot that resonates even in today’s media landscape.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com