HAM IT UP

Joe Alwyn Says Hamnet Cast Turned the Set Into a Rihanna-Fuelled Party

Joe Alwyn recalls a surprise on-set rave when Chloé Zhao cued Rihanna, turning the Hamnet shoot into a jubilant, unforgettable moment that bonded cast and crew amid awards season.
NEWS
PUBLISHED 16 Mar 2026 20:01 GMT UPDATED 16 Mar 2026 20:01 GMT

Key Points

  • JOE Alwyn shared a fun behind-the-scenes Hamnet memory while attending the 2026 Oscars on March 15, revealing that the cast bonded by dancing to Rihanna’s 2011 hit “We Found Love.” Speaking from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Alwyn said director Chloé Zhao played the song on one of the cast’s final days on set, and everyone “jumped around” in what he described as a fun party.
  • The moment had already caught fans’ attention thanks to a TikTok showing Alwyn, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal and Noah Jupe dancing in Shakespearean costume.
  • Alwyn said the memory stands out from filming, especially during a major awards season run for Hamnet, according to Entertainment Tonight.

JOE Alwyn shared a fun behind-the-scenes Hamnet memory while attending the 2026 Oscars on March 15, revealing that the cast bonded by dancing to Rihanna’s 2011 hit “We Found Love.”

Speaking from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Alwyn said director Chloé Zhao played the song on one of the cast’s final days on set, and everyone “jumped around” in what he described as a fun party.

The moment had already caught fans’ attention thanks to a TikTok showing Alwyn, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal and Noah Jupe dancing in Shakespearean costume.

Alwyn said the memory stands out from filming, especially during a major awards season run for Hamnet, according to Entertainment Tonight.

The film has earned more than 15 awards this season, including Jessie Buckley’s Oscar win for Best Lead Actress.

The star said it has been exciting to see audiences connect with the movie, adding that he always felt he was working with special people and material.

Buckley previously said Rihanna’s song transformed the set into “a rave,” with extras and cast alike joining in.

Zhao also praised “We Found Love,” saying its lyric about finding love in a hopeless place connects deeply to Hamnet’s themes of grief, loss and human connection.

At the 2026 Oscars, Hamnet was part of the night’s major film conversation, with Buckley taking home one of the movie’s biggest wins.

Why This Matters

This moment matters because it humanizes the Hamnet cast, showing how a spontaneous Rihanna-fueled bonding session deepened camaraderie and likely strengthened on-screen chemistry—helping fuel the film’s awards momentum and audience connection.

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