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# Paul Mescal to Play Young Shakespeare in 'Hamnet'
- URL: https://celebritykind.ghost.io/paul-mescal-to-play-young-shakespeare-in-hamnet/
- Published: 2024-01-31T10:05:47.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-30T00:57:13.000Z
- Author: Nehal Dalgliesh
- Tags: Movies, hamnet, Movies, Paul Mescal, shakespeare, #Migrated-1790725714374, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-09-29 23:49

**Paul Mescal** is set to star as a young William Shakespeare!

The Irish actor, who rose to fame as Connell in the 2020 miniseries *Normal People* (as did his gold chain - IYKYK), will next star in *Hamnet* from director Chloé Zhao. The film is based on the novel of the same name by author Maggie O'Farrell and follows a fictional account of Shakespeare's son, Hamnet, who dies at age 11.

Starring alongside him is Jessie Buckley who will portray Agnes, Shakespeare's wife.

In a recent interview with [*Vogue,*](https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/paul-mescal-interview-all-of-us-strangers?ref=celebritykind.ghost.io) Paul spoke about the role and how thrilled he is to take on such a project:

"The 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 obviously been in a film with Jessie before \[*The Lost Daughter*\] but we've never shared the screen or a working process together. I think she's one of our present-day greats. And Chloé is somebody I can't wait to get in the weeds with, and get into the heads of those characters."

Hey there bestie - sign up to our [FREE Newsletter](https://celebritykind.ghost.io/content/files/2026/09/newsletter-sign-up-763.html) for more kind, no-gossip celebrity news! 

Paul more recently starred in *Aftersun,* earning himself an Oscar nomination last year in the Best Actor category, as well as the film *All of Us Strangers.* He's also landed the lead in Ridley Scott's highly-anticipated *Gladiator* sequel which is due to be released in November this year. Paul will play Lucius, the son of Maximus which was played by Russell Crowe in the 2000 film.

Add to that Paul's role in Richard Linklater's adaptation of *Merrily We Roll Along -* which according to Linklater, will be filmed over a course of 20 years - and yep, it's most certainly a busy time for Mr. Mescal!

*(Feature Image Credit: photo of Paul Mescal by DFree/Shutterstock.com)* 

##### **Pssst.... haven't read the book yet? Get your copy now!**

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![a cover of the book 'Hamnet' by Maggie O'Farrell which is being adapted into a film starring Paul Mescal](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cf/bb/cfbb8a7e-9a81-48ec-83e6-18e106bf4f7a/content/images/2026/09/screen-shot-2024-02-01-at-11-13-11-am-2.png)

Courtesy Vintage Publishing

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