Anna Kendrick is heading behind the camera for one of Netflix’s most anticipated literary adaptations. The Oscar-nominated actress has signed on to direct The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, becoming the third filmmaker tapped to helm the project after Leslye Headland and later Maggie Betts exited the production.
Based on Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling 2017 novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows aging Hollywood legend Evelyn Hugo, who grants an exclusive final interview to relatively unknown journalist Monique Grant. As Evelyn recounts her rise to stardom, her seven marriages and the sacrifices she made to survive the Golden Age of Hollywood, long-buried secrets emerge that connect the two women in unexpected ways.
Netflix first acquired the rights to the novel in 2022, but the adaptation has experienced several creative changes behind the scenes. Headland and Betts were previously attached to direct before departing the project. Kendrick now takes over a film that has generated years of fan casting speculation, particularly around the coveted roles of Evelyn Hugo and actress Celia St. James. No cast members have been announced.
The novel became a publishing phenomenon thanks to BookTok and word-of-mouth enthusiasm, selling millions of copies worldwide and building a devoted fanbase drawn to its blend of Old Hollywood glamour, romance and queer storytelling. Reid remains involved as an executive producer, while Liz Tigelaar’s screenplay is currently undergoing revisions by Francesca Sloane.For Kendrick, the assignment represents a significant step in her filmmaking career. While she remains best known for acting roles in Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air and A Simple Favor, she earned strong reviews for her directorial debut, the Netflix true-crime thriller Woman of the Hour, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before becoming one of the streamer’s most acclaimed original films.