Books
Toni Morrison Receives PEN Award for Achievement in American Fiction
“Beloved” author Toni Morrison received the 2016 PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction Thursday at the PEN American Center in New York. The event, titled “Dangerous Work:...
Marti Noxon’s “Dietland” Adaptation Heading to AMC
Marti Noxon’s television adaptation of Sarai Walker’s novel “Dietland” is heading to AMC after an intense, multiple-network bidding war, THR reports. HBO, Netflix, and TV Land were all in...
J.K. Rowling’s “Cormoran Strike” Series Heading to HBO
J.K. Rowling’s work is headed to HBO. You may recall when the “Harry Potter” author turned to the pseudonym Robert Galbraith to write a series of crime novels. Now BBC One is turning them into...
Jennifer Lawrence to Play Zelda Fitzgerald in Biopic
Jennifer Lawrence is swapping Mystique’s blue body paint for flapper dresses. The Oscar winner has signed on to portray Jazz Age icon Zelda Fitzgerald in “Zelda,” an upcoming biopic about the...
Taraji P. Henson on the Race and Gender Pay Gap: “Insult, Meet Injury”
“I knew the stakes,” Taraji P. Henson writes in her new memoir, “Around the Way.” “No matter how talented, no matter how many accolades my prior work had received, if I pushed for more...
Book Excerpt: “Never Done: A History of Women’s Work in Media Production”
by Erin Hill There’s a myth in Hollywood that women did not participate in much of film history except as actors or, more rarely, as screenwriters, because they were pushed out from behind the...
Books, Films, News, Television
Eva Longoria’s Production Company Adapting “940 Saturdays” Book for ABC
Eva Longoria, an increasingly busy multi-hyphenate, has another television series in the works. Longoria is reuniting with ABC, the network behind “Desperate Housewives,” to develop “940...
Maria Maggenti to Write Pilot for TV Land’s “Re Jane”
“Finding Carter” alumna Maria Maggenti is adapting Patricia Park’s 2015 novel “Re Jane” for the small screen. The half-hour, single-camera comedy series is being developed at TV Land,...
Margaret Nagle to Write “Bonfire of the Vanities” Series
Margaret Nagle has signed on to pen a series based on “Bonfire of the Vanities,” Tom Wolfe’s bestselling 1987 novel. Along with writing the project, “The Good Lie” screenwriter will serve...
Best-Selling Author Helen Walsh To Direct Second Feature
Award-winning novelist Helen Walsh is stepping behind the camera for a second time, Screen International reports. The English writer-director will follow up her 2015 debut “The Violators” with...
Emma Thompson to Star in “The Children Act”
Oscar winner Emma Thompson is set to star in “The Children Act,” an adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan (“Atonement”), Variety reports. Thompson will play Fiona May, a London judge...
Movies are Officially Dead — Meryl Streep is Heading to Television
Film history, as it shall be written, will cite this announcement as a musical triangle in the blaring orchestra that sounds the death knell of big screen cinema. Following the footsteps of Gloria...
Viola Davis and Quvenzhané Wallis Join Claire McCarthy’s “Personal History Of Rachel Dupree”
Two Oscar nominees are joining forces for Claire McCarthy’s period drama “The Personal History Of Rachel Dupree.” Viola Davis and Quvenzhané Wallis have signed on, with Davis playing the...
Julianne Moore Cast as Opera Singer in “Bel Canto” Adaptation
Oscar-winner Julianne Moore is set to play a world-famous American soprano in an upcoming adaptation of Ann Patchett’s “Bel Canto.” Directed by Paul Weitz , the film finds Moore’s Roxanne...
Anne Hathaway to Star in “Live Fast Die Hot”
Anne Hathaway has signed on to star in “Live Fast Die Hot,” a film adaptation of actress Jenny Mollen’s best-selling book released this June, The Tracking Board reports. Warner Bros. snagged...
Emma Thompson in Talks for Starring Role in “The Children Act”
Oscar winner Emma Thompson is reportedly in talks to star in an adaptation of “The Children Act,” Deadline writes. The book, written by Ian McEwan, follows “a British High Court judge who...
Eleanor Catton’s “The Luminaries” Coming to Television
Eleanor Catton’s award-winning novel “The Luminaries” is being adapted for TV, The Hollywood Reporter writes. Working Title Television will produce the series for the BBC. Catton will adapt...
Books by Nine-Year-Old Journalist Hilde Lysiak Being Made into a TV Series
Paramount Television and Anonymous Content have snatched up the rights to an upcoming book series from tiny journalist Hilde Lysiak, Variety reports. The nine-year-old reporter Lysiak made news...
Diablo Cody Will Americanize Caitlin Moran’s “Raised By Wolves” for ABC
Diablo Cody is set to introduce U.S. audiences to more snarky, precocious, and hilarious teen girls. The “Juno” screenwriter and Oscar winner has teamed up with Berlanti Productions...
Renee Zellweger Talks Aging, Beauty, and Power
Oscar winner Renee Zellweger recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for a wide-ranging, in-depth interview in anticipation of her eagerly awaited reprisal of her most beloved role. “Bridget...
“Anne of Green Gables” Series Coming to Netflix
Your favorite loquacious redhead is coming to Netflix. The streaming service has picked up “Anne,” an eight-episode series based on Canadian author L.M. Montgomery’s much-loved “Anne of...
Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman Reteam for Another Book Adaptation
Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are set to join forces again, Deadline reports. Witherspoon’s Pacific Standard production banner and Kidman’s Blossom Films have optioned the...
Amazon Acquires Black List Script About Journalist Ida Tarbell
Ida Tarbell: James E. Purdy/ Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Library of Congress A biopic about Ida Tarbell is on the way. Amazon has acquired “Ida Tarbell,” a 2015 Black List script about the pioneering...
Anna Paquin Joins Netflix’s “Alias Grace”
Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Anna Paquin (“The Piano,” “True Blood”) is joining the Netflix miniseries “Alias Grace,” based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the...
Lauren Palmigiano to Direct Elizabeth Banks-Produced “White Girl Problems”
“Funny or Die” writer Lauren Palmigiano has signed on to make her feature directorial debut with Lionsgate’s “White Girl Problems,” Variety reports. The project is produced by Elizabeth...
Michelle MacLaren to Direct Film Adaptation of “The Nightingale”
Michelle MacLaren is making her big-screen directorial debut after building an impressive resume working in TV, helming episodes of series such as “Better Call Saul,” “Game of Thrones,”...
Trailer Watch: Kathy Bates’ Love is Unconditional in “The Great Gilly Hopkins”
A new trailer has been released for “The Great Gilly Hopkins,” Lionsgate Premiere’s upcoming adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s National Book Award-winning 1978 children’s novel. The...
Stacie Passon to Direct Shirley Jackson’s “We Have Always Lived in the Castle”
Stacie Passon has co-written and will direct a film adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s 1962 story “We Have Always Lived in the Castle,” The Hollywood Reporter writes. The creepy story “centers...
Greta Gerwig Taking Over “Little Women” Screenwriting Duties from Sarah Polley
Indie film star Greta Gerwig is taking over the screenwriting duties for Sony Pictures’ adaptation of “Little Women,” The Tracking Board reports. As we previously reported,...
Natalie Portman and Marta Kauffman Team Up for HBO Miniseries
Natalie Portman has signed on for her first major TV role. The Oscar winner is teaming up with “Friends” co-creator Marta Kauffman for a miniseries at HBO. Deadline reports that Portman will...
The Team Behind “Gossip Girl” and “The O.C.” To Write YA Murder Mystery Film for Netflix
The team behind “Gossip Girl” and “The O.C.” have signed on to another teen-centric project. Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz will pen an adaptation of “13 Minutes,” a British YA novel...
“Girl on the Train” Writer Erin Cressida Wilson to Pen Adaptation of “Eileen”
Erin Cressida Wilson continues her hot streak. The in-demand screenwriter has been tapped to adapt “Eileen,” Ottessa Moshfegh’s award-winning debut novel, for Fox Searchlight and producer...
Anna Faris to Write a Memoir
“Mom” star Anna Faris is set to release a memoir titled “Unqualified,” which will take inspiration from the actress’ cheekily titled podcast “Anna Faris Is Unqualified,” where...
Director Ry Russo-Young’s “Before I Fall” Gets Spring 2017 Release Date
The Zoey Deutch’s starrer “Before I Fall” has been given a release date, Variety reports. Open Road Films will premiere the film on April 7, 2017. The movie, directed by Ry Russo-Young and...
“Orange is the New Black’s” Samira Wiley Joins Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Poussey is heading to Hulu. “Orange is the New Black” star Samira Wiley is joining the streaming service’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Vanity Fair reports....
Amandla Stenberg to Star in Stella Meghie’s “Everything Everything” Adaptation
Amandla Stenberg, who played Rue in “The Hunger Games,” has signed on to star in the film adaptation the YA book by “Everything Everything” by Nicola Yoon, The Hollywood Reporter writes....
Kirsten Dunst to Direct Dakota Fanning in “The Bell Jar”
Kirsten Dunst is set to helm her debut feature. The “Fargo” star and Emmy nominee is bringing an adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s influential 1963 novel “The Bell Jar” to the big-screen. Dunst...
AMBI Classics Makes its Debut with Niki Caro’s “Whale Rider”
Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Group is forging its way into specialty distribution. AMBI has a library of more than 400 titles from Exclusive Media Group to draw on, and are planning...
Books, Films, News, Television
Kyra Sedgwick to Make Directorial Debut with Lifetime Coming-of-Age Drama
Kyra Sedgwick is stepping behind the camera. The “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” actress is set to make her directorial debut with “Story of a Girl,” an adaptation of Sara Zarr’s YA novel, a finalist...
Trailer Watch: Emily Blunt is Afraid of Herself in “The Girl on the Train”
A new trailer has been released for this fall’s highly anticipated “The Girl on the Train.” In it, we hear more from Rachel Watson, the unreliable narrator who has galvanized readers since...
Rose Byrne and Oprah to Star in HBO’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”
Rose Byrne is set to join Oprah Winfrey in HBO’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” The film is based on Rebecca Skloot’s 2010 best-selling nonfiction book of the same name. According...
Books, Films, News, Television
Reed Morano to Direct “The Handmaid’s Tale” Starring Elisabeth Moss
Reed Morano has been confirmed to helm “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s classic 1985 dystopian novel. The streaming service has given a straight-to-series...
“Kung Fu Panda 2” Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson to Make Her Live Action Debut
“Kung Fu Panda 2” director Jennifer Yuh Nelson will make her live-action directorial debut with an adaptation of YA hit “The Darkest Minds,” the first installment of a book trilogy by...
Jimmy Choo Co-Founder Tamara Mellon’s Memoir Getting the Big Screen Treatement
Working Title has optioned Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon’s memoir “In My Shoes,” Deadline has reported. Comedian and screenwriter Laura Solon (“Hot in Cleveland”) has adapted the...
Bella Thorne to Star in Adaptation of YA Novel “Break My Heart 1,000 Times”
Bella Thorne will star in “Break My Heart 1,000 Times,” Variety has reported, an adaptation of the young adult novel by Daniel Waters. The plot centers on “a cataclysmic event that tears the...
Virginia Woolf’s Romance with Vita Sackville-West Comes to the Big-Screen
The love affair between two literary greats will serve as the inspiration for an upcoming film by “Burn Burn Burn” director Chanya Button. According to Deadline, Button will helm a script...
Sarah Gadon Will Star in Netflix’s “Alias Grace”
Netflix’s “Alias Grace” has found its star. The streaming site has announced that Sarah Gadon (“Belle,” “A Dangerous Method”) will take on the lead role of Grace Marks in the upcoming...
Trailer Watch: Renee Zellweger Returns in “Bridget Jones’s Baby”
We’re not gonna lie: we’ve missed Renée Zellweger, and we’ve missed her most beloved character, Bridget Jones. So we’re delighted to see a new trailer for “Bridget Jones’s Baby,” and...
Lisa McInerney Wins Two Prestigious Prizes for Her Debut Novel
Lisa McInerney will undoubtedly remember June 2016 as one of the most exciting months of her life. The Irish novelist won the £10,000 (about $13,000 USD) Desmond Elliott Prize for her debut novel...
Frances Conroy Will Star in TV Adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Mist”
Frances Conroy is set to enter “The Mist” for Spike TV. She’ll star in the scripted drama, an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1980 novella. “The Mist,” which Spike has ordered...
Reed Morano May Direct “The Handmaid’s Tale” Adaptation Starring Elisabeth Moss
Reed Morano is in talks to helm “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s classic 1985 dystopian novel. The streaming service has given a straight-to-series order for...