Filmmaker Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) has been signed up to take the helm on an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed Shakespeare-era novel ‘Hamnet’ for Amblin Partners.

The bestseller reframes the creation of William Shakespeare’s most famous play, ‘Hamlet,’ through the lens of the playwright’s wife Agnes (a variation on Anne Hathaway, the name of Shakespeare’s real wife), 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.

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Zhao will also be penning the screenplay with O’Farrell. Amblin Partners, Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions and Book of Shadows are all backing the project.

Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris (1917) and Sam Mendes (1917) are producing, and Nic Gonda is executive producing for Book of Shadows. Jeb Brody, Amblin’s president of production, and Mia Maniscalco, SVP of creative affairs, will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.