Things are moving forward on Reese Witherspoon’s adaptation of “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.” Deadline confirms Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine is joining forces with MGM on the project and that “The Post” scribe Liz Hannah has been hired to write the script. Witherspoon is producing and will also potentially star.
Based on author Gail Honeyman’s bestselling debut novel, “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” follows the titular misfit heroine as she “goes from living a lonely life to realizing the only way to survive is to open your heart.” Hello Sunshine originally optioned the book in May 2017.
“Gail has created an incredibly smart, funny, and eccentric character who beautifully demonstrates the ways vulnerability and human connection can so deeply enrich your life,” Witherspoon said. “Eleanor’s journey is utterly extraordinary. To know her is to love her, and I’m so excited to team up with MGM and Liz Hannah to bring this unbelievably gorgeous character to life on-screen.”
“For over 17 years, Reese has been an integral part of the fabric of MGM both in front and behind the camera, and we couldn’t be happier to continue this partnership with her Hello Sunshine team on this wonderful and beloved novel,” added MGM’s Jonathan Glickman.
Witherspoon will reprise the role of Elle Woods in MGM’s “Legally Blonde 3,” scheduled for release on February 14, 2020. She’s also set to produce the sequel. The Oscar winner is exec producing and starring in an untitled morning show drama for Apple and “Little Fires Everywhere,” Hulu’s adaptation of Celeste Ng’s bestselling novel. Jennifer Aniston co-stars in the former and Kerry Washington the latter.
“A Wrinkle in Time” and “Home Again” are among Witherspoon’s most recent on-screen credits. In addition to starring in HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” she exec produces the Liane Moriarty adaptation. A second season has wrapped filming, but no word on when it will premiere.
Hannah co-wrote Pentagon Papers drama “The Post” with Josh Singer. They won the WGA’s Paul Selvin Honorary Award for the script. Hannah also penned Elle Fanning romantic drama “All the Bright Places,” currently filming.
