Ian McKellen isn’t a fan of ‘Hamnet’: “I don’t quite get it”

He said that he had a “few doubts of probability” regarding the storyline The post Ian McKellen isn’t a fan of ‘Hamnet’: “I don’t quite get it” appeared first on NME. NewsFilm News Ian McKellen isn’t a fan of ‘Hamnet’: “I don’t quite get it” He said that he had a “few doubts of probability” regarding the storyline By Liberty Dunworth 17th February 2026 Sir Ian McKellen in February 2026. CREDIT: Ian West/Getty Images Ian McKellen has revealed that he isn’t a fan of Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, saying that he “doesn’t quite get it”. READ MORE: ‘Hamnet’ review: sob your eyes out to this tragic Shakespeare origin story The film centres around the grief of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes over the death of their son, and explores how the experience may have inspired the legendary playwright to write Hamlet. Advertisement Since its release in cinemas last month, the film has seen widespread critical success, and is one of the leading movies at this year’s Oscars – nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, Casting, Costume Design, Production Design and Original Score, and Best Actress for Jessie Buckley. However, one person who hasn’t shared the same praise for the movie is screen star and theatre legend Sir Ian McKellen. In a new interview with The Times, the actor said that he was not as convinced by the film as many others, and suggested that the premise was unrealistic. “I don’t quite get it,” he said. “I’m not very interested in trying to work out where Shakespeare’s imagination came from, but it certainly didn’t just come from family life.” He then suggested that what he found most irksome was the “idea” that Shakespeare’s wife “Anne Hathaway had never seen a play before”. Recommended “It’s improbable, considering what her husband did for a living,” he shared. “And she doesn’t seem to know what a play is! I think there are a few doubts of probability.” Despite these issues he saw with the plot, McKellen went on to say that he was certain that Hamnet would do well at upcoming award ceremonies due to the subject matter, and recalled how similar films about Shakespeare have performed well despite what he considers to be unrealistic aspects. “As Hamnet races towards the finishing line as far as Oscars are concerned, it’s likely to repeat the success of Shakespeare in Love, which had odd views as to how plays get put on,” he told the outlet. “But then Shakespeare was perhaps the most famous person who ever lived, so of course there is some interest in what he looked like, what his relationship with his family was.” Advertisement As well as the multiple Oscar nods, Hamnet has also seen Jessie Buckley win Best Actress at the 2026 Golden Globes, and is tipped to be a big winner at the BAFTAs later this month. NME awarded the film four stars, writing: “Zhao’s direction is never quite naturalistic and occasionally feels heavy-handed: in one scene, we see William considering suicide by the River Thames while reciting Hamlet’s familiar “to be or not to be” soliloquy. But there’s no denying this is a powerful portrait of grief driven by a shattering performance from Buckley, who’s currently frontrunner to win Best Actress at this year’s Oscars. “The Academy won’t struggle to find an isolated clip of her technical and emotional brilliance, but Hamnet really needs to be experienced in full. It’s a harrowing reminder that tragedy is stalking all of us and can’t be shouldered alone.” Related TopicsHamnetIan McKellenJessie BuckleyPaul Mescal You May Also Like Advertisement TRENDING The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2026 Miriam Petche just set a new ‘Industry’ standard ‘Wuthering Heights’ review: this sexed-up reimagining is a bonking success Inside Swim Deep’s gorgeous new album ‘Hum’: “It feels like we’ve arrived at the conclusion of who we are” The rise, fall and rebirth of 2000s IT room favourite ‘RuneScape’ Advertisement More Stories Film News Ian McKellen isn’t a fan of ‘Hamnet’: “I don’t quite get it” Music News Chvrches cover The Postal Service’s ‘Such Great Heights’ and Robert Palmer’s ‘Addicted To Love’ for ‘Tell Me Lies’ soundtrack Music News Former Black Midi member Cameron Picton launches new band My New Band Believe with thrilling single ‘Numerology’ Music News Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy shares heartfelt cover of Cameron Winter’s ‘Love Takes Miles’ News What happened to the cast of ‘Single’s Inferno’ season five? Music News Damon Albarn says Blur playing Coachella was “a slight mismatch” and the festival is “the embodiment of social media now”