Sir Ian McKellen Voices ‘Improbable’ Doubts Over Oscar Contender ‘Hamnet’ Plot

Sir Ian McKellen, the esteemed British actor renowned for his extensive Shakespearean roles, has publicly expressed reservations regarding the historical probability of certain plot elements in Chloé Zhao’s acclaimed film, Hamnet. Despite his critique, McKellen, an Academy member since 1999, predicts significant success for the movie at the upcoming Academy Awards, particularly for its lead star, Jessie Buckley.

McKellen, who has embodied iconic Shakespearean characters from Hamlet to King Lear, admitted he doesn’t ‘quite get’ the film’s narrative, which imagines the events surrounding the death of William Shakespeare’s son and suggests this tragedy inspired the playwright’s famous work, Hamlet. His primary concern centers on the portrayal of Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes (played by Buckley), who the film depicts as being largely unaware of her husband’s profession.

McKellen’s Critique of ‘Hamnet’s’ Narrative

The legendary thespian, 86, found the notion of Agnes being ‘clueless’ about Shakespeare’s burgeoning career in London to be ‘improbable.’ As reported by The Independent, McKellen stated, ‘It’s improbable, considering what her husband did for a living. I think there are a few doubts of probability.’ The film portrays Agnes remaining in Stratford-upon-Avon to care for their children while Shakespeare travels to London to become a successful playwright, a detail McKellen found difficult to reconcile with historical context, given his deep knowledge of the Bard’s life and works.

Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, is explicitly a work of historical fiction. O’Farrell herself clarifies in the afterword of her source novel that it is ‘inspired by the short life of a boy who died in Stratford, Warwickshire, in the summer of 1596,’ rather than a strictly factual account. However, McKellen’s comments underscore a tension between creative interpretation and perceived historical accuracy, particularly when viewed through the lens of a Shakespearean expert.

‘Hamnet’s’ Oscar Prospects and Critical Acclaim

Despite McKellen’s specific plot doubts, he acknowledged the film’s strong position in the current awards season. Hamnet has garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning eight nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Chloé Zhao, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Zhao and O’Farrell. The film has also performed well at the box office, grossing $74 million globally against a budget of $35 million, with expectations for these takings to increase as awards season intensifies.

Jessie Buckley’s performance as Agnes has been particularly singled out for praise. She recently won Best Actress at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards for her role in Hamnet and is nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama category. McKellen specifically predicted that Buckley is the ‘runaway favourite’ to win Best Actress at the Oscars, which are scheduled for March 15th, according to Radio Times. Buckley, who married her husband Freddie in 2023 and welcomed a daughter in 2025, has been actively promoting the film, noting that her husband, a mental health worker, maintains anonymity due to his profession, even while attending promotional events for Hamnet.

Sir Ian McKellen’s pointed observations highlight the ongoing debate between artistic license in historical fiction and the expectations of audiences, especially when a renowned authority on the subject expresses reservations. His critique, while specific to certain plot details, does not diminish the film’s overall artistic merit or its significant awards season momentum, but rather adds another layer to its critical reception.