"Hamnet": Production Designer Dean List on Grounded Historical Drama

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Sunday, February 22nd 2026 at 15:02 GMT by WGN Chicago
      Locales: England, UNITED KINGDOM

Beyond the Castle Walls: Dean List on Crafting a Grounded 'Hamnet'

Dean List, the celebrated production designer behind visually arresting films like Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The French Dispatch," has turned his meticulous eye towards a new project: "Hamnet," a poignant reimagining of the life surrounding William Shakespeare's famed tragedy. Directed by Chloe Zhao, and starring Saoirse Ronan and Jemima Kirke, the film doesn't attempt a direct adaptation of Hamlet itself, but instead delves into the Shakespeare family dynamic and the events believed to have inspired the play. List recently shared insights into the creative process behind bringing this emotionally resonant story to the screen, revealing a design philosophy rooted in both historical authenticity and contemporary sensibility.

"The initial conversation with Chloe was centered around finding a tone that felt truthful and grounded, but also possessed a modern aesthetic," List explained in a recent interview. This presented a unique challenge - how to depict Elizabethan England in a way that felt both historically plausible and refreshingly new? The answer, List suggests, lay in a delicate balancing act. It wasn't about recreating a perfectly polished period piece, but rather about establishing a visceral sense of place and time that resonated with a contemporary audience.

List and his team embarked on extensive research, drawing inspiration from historical literature and art, but acknowledging the limitations of available reference material. While grand depictions of Elizabethan courts exist, finding visual cues for everyday life - the textures of a family home, the practicalities of rural existence - proved more difficult. This led them to explore less conventional sources. "We looked at a lot of tapestries and paintings, of course," List says, "but we also spent a lot of time researching old farmhouses, barns, and stone structures from the period. The goal was to evoke a sense of groundedness, of a life lived close to the land." This emphasis on tangible, tactile reality is a hallmark of List's work, and is powerfully evident in "Hamnet."

The family home, in particular, takes on a significant role in the film, almost functioning as a character itself. List describes it as "protective, like it's holding everything in." This sense of containment is not achieved through imposing grandeur, but through a deliberate depiction of vulnerability. The house is not pristine; it bears the marks of time, the wear and tear of daily life, and the unspoken burdens of the family within. "We wanted to show the cracks, the fragility," List emphasizes. "The details are meant to tell a story about the family's hardships and triumphs."

Every element, from the arrangement of furniture to the smallest textile, was imbued with meaning. "Chloe and I spent a lot of time discussing the significance of each object," List recalls. "The textiles were particularly important - the way they were worn, the way they faded, the way they were patched. Each one tells a little bit of a story." This attention to detail creates a rich visual tapestry that subtly conveys the emotional weight of the narrative.

Beyond the physical environment, List also praises the contributions of the film's actors, Saoirse Ronan and Jemima Kirke. He highlights Ronan's thoughtful presence and ability to connect with the nuances of the set, bringing authenticity to every scene. Kirke, he notes, was remarkably intuitive, readily grasping the emotional undercurrents and unafraid to take creative risks. The collaborative spirit between the production design team and the cast proved crucial to the film's success.

Creating the appropriate atmosphere wasn't solely the domain of set construction. List worked in close collaboration with cinematographer Shabier Khurshid to develop a lighting scheme that enhanced the emotional impact of the film. "We talked a lot about how to create a sense of atmosphere and mood through light and shadow," he explains. The aim was to strike a balance between the natural light of the countryside and the more dramatic lighting of interior spaces, contributing to a visually captivating and emotionally resonant experience.

"Hamnet" isn't just a historical drama; it's a deeply human story, and Dean List's production design plays a vital role in bringing that humanity to life. By grounding the film in a believable and beautifully rendered world, he creates a space where audiences can connect with the characters and their struggles on a profoundly emotional level.