Anna Kendrick has landed a major new directing assignment: she is set to direct Netflix’s film adaptation of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The project brings to the screen Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel, which follows the life of legendary and famously private Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo. In the story, Evelyn chooses an unknown reporter, Monique Grant, to write her tell-all memoir, revealing the secrets behind her rise to fame during Hollywood’s golden age.
Originally published in 2017, the novel became a major hit and gained even more popularity on TikTok, helping it build a strong fan base eager for a screen adaptation. Netflix first announced plans to develop a movie version in 2023, and the project has remained one of the streamer’s most anticipated literary adaptations.
According to Deadline, Kendrick secured the directing role after the success of her film Woman of the Hour. The report says the studio had been strongly committed to the project since acquiring the rights in 2022, and that Kendrick was seen as a natural fit for the film. Her move into directing marks another important step in her growing behind-the-camera career.
Before Kendrick came aboard, other filmmakers had been linked to the adaptation. Variety reported that Maggie Betts and Leslye Headland were previously attached to the project, but both later exited. Their departures opened the door for new creative leadership as the movie continued through development.
The screenplay is still being worked on. Deadline reports that Liz Tigelaar wrote the first draft, and Francesca Sloane is currently handling revisions. That means the film is still in an early stage of development, even as interest in the project remains high among fans of the book.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has long been considered a strong candidate for adaptation because of its sweeping emotional scope, glamorous setting, and layered central character. The novel spans decades of fame, ambition, love, and reinvention, making it a natural fit for a high-profile film project at Netflix.
With Kendrick directing and the screenplay still evolving, the adaptation continues to generate attention from both fans of the book and entertainment watchers following the next major literary adaptation. The film remains one of Netflix’s more closely watched projects, especially given the passionate audience that has formed around the novel since its release.
The news marks a significant development for the long-discussed adaptation and adds further momentum to a project that has been years in the making.
