Chloé Zhao

I was driving through New Mexico to Telluride Film Festival.

And then that's when Amblin called me and told me about this project.

Amblin Spielberg's production company.

And when they said it over the phone, you know, the reception, they said,

If you haven't been to the Four Corners, not great.

So I was in and out, and they were saying, you know, it's about Shakespeare's wife and the death of their son.

I just thought, there's so many things in that sentence that I have no personal connection to.

So I said no.

And then a few hours later, I met Paul Metzger for the first time.

I didn't know who he was, because I'd not seen normal people before.

His career has changed a lot in a short amount of time.

But I sat next to the creek with him and I just felt something about him.

You know, there's something about him.

There's a simmering discomfort in him like an animal, you know, like a steppenwolf just wants to burst out.

And that's why he creates.

So the energy was really strong.

And he's talking about, oh, I asked him, would you ever consider playing young Shakespeare?

And he said, wait, are you talking about Hamnet?

I love the book so much.

You have to read the book.