Actor-filmmaker Anna Kendrick has been tapped to direct Netflix's highly anticipated adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid's bestselling novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, marking a major development for a project that has faced several creative changes since it was first announced, according to Variety.
Kendrick will helm the film after previous directors Maggie Betts and Leslye Headland exited the project for undisclosed reasons.
Based on Reid's 2017 novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo centers on a reclusive Old Hollywood icon who decides to grant one final interview to an unknown journalist. During the candid conversation, Evelyn Hugo reveals the truth behind her seven marriages and shares untold stories of fame, ambition, betrayal, and scandal that shaped her life and career, as per the outlet.
Netflix acquired the rights to the novel in 2022, but the adaptation has taken time to move forward. Casting details for the film have not yet been announced. The book's devoted fanbase has long championed Jessica Chastain for the role of Evelyn Hugo, a glamorous Hollywood star known for her striking red hair. However, Chastain previously shut down speculation about her involvement, saying there was "zero possibility" of her playing the character.
The screenplay was initially penned by Liz Tigelaar, known for Tiny Beautiful Things and Little Fires Everywhere. Francesca Sloane, whose credits include Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Atlanta, Fargo, and the upcoming third season of Big Little Lies, is currently revising the script, according to Variety.
The adaptation marks the second of Reid's novels to receive a screen treatment following Amazon's 2023 limited series Daisy Jones & the Six, which was inspired by the story of a fictional rock band and loosely drew from the history of Fleetwood Mac's iconic album 'Rumours.'
Reid will serve as an executive producer on the project alongside Margaret Chernin. Producers include Liza Chasin for 3Dot Productions and Brad Mendelsohn for Circle Management + Productions.
Kendrick is widely known for her performances in the Pitch Perfect franchise and the Twilight films. She made her directorial debut with Woman of the Hour, a thriller that Netflix acquired in a multimillion-dollar deal following its premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, as per the outlet. The actor-director will next be seen in Chris Rock's drama Misty Green and Lauren Miller Rogen's comedy Babies, according to Variety.
