Anna Kendrick to Helm Netflix’s ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ Adaptation

Netflix has found its next auteur behind the camera for one of the most anticipated literary adaptations in recent memory. Anna Kendrick, fresh off the critical and commercial triumph of her directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, is now set to direct the streaming giant’s adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s blockbuster novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The project has been in various stages of development since Netflix acquired the rights in 2022, with previous directors Maggie Betts and Leslye Headland attached at different points. Now, with Kendrick at the helm, the adaptation has a fresh creative spark and a renewed sense of urgency among Hollywood insiders and the book’s massive fanbase.

A Literary Phenomenon That Refuses to Fade

Published in 2017, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has become a cultural juggernaut. The novel has sold over 24 million copies worldwide and been translated into 43 languages. Its digital footprint is equally staggering: on TikTok alone, the book has generated 759 million views, with author Taylor Jenkins Reid’s name racking up 783 million views. The story has been selected by nearly every major book club — Good Morning America, Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna — and has spent years on the New York Times bestseller list.

Reid’s literary star power only continues to rise. Her most recent novel, Atmosphere, was named Target’s 2025 Book of the Year and won the 2025 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. It also hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was a Good Morning America Book Club pick. The author has built a dedicated social media following that rivals many A-list celebrities, making any adaptation of her work a high-stakes, high-visibility event.

From ‘Daisy Jones’ to Evelyn Hugo: The Reid Cinematic Universe

This isn’t the first time Reid’s work has been adapted for the screen. Prime Video and Hello Sunshine turned her novel Daisy Jones & The Six into a critically acclaimed limited series, earning widespread praise for its period authenticity and emotional depth. That project proved that Reid’s stories — rich with nostalgia, complicated relationships, and old-school Hollywood glamour — translate beautifully to visual media. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, however, presents a different challenge: it is an intimate, nonlinear narrative driven entirely by a single interview, flashbacks, and the raw, confessional voice of its aging protagonist.

With Liz Tigelaar having penned the first draft of the screenplay and Francesca Sloane currently handling revisions, the script is being refined to capture the novel’s layered structure. Tigelaar is known for her work on Little Fires Everywhere and Daisy Jones & The Six, while Sloane recently served as showrunner on Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Together, they bring a strong track record of adapting beloved source material with nuance and care.

Anna Kendrick’s Directorial Evolution

Kendrick’s rise as a director has been deliberate and impressive. Her debut, Woman of the Hour, a chilling true-crime thriller about a serial killer on a dating game show, premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and was immediately acquired by Netflix for eight figures. The film earned strong reviews for its taut direction, emotional restraint, and unsettling atmosphere — a far cry from the comedic roles that made Kendrick a household name.

Netflix, clearly eager to retain Kendrick’s directorial talents, actively worked to secure her next project. After reviewing multiple scripts, Kendrick gravitated toward Evelyn Hugo. The studio had been high on the property since acquiring rights in 2022, and the synergy between Kendrick’s actor-friendly directing style and the novel’s emphasis on character depth made it an ideal match. “Following the success of that pic, Netflix worked hard to make sure her next directing outing was with them,” sources told Deadline.

On the acting front, Kendrick remains in demand. She recently reprised her role in Another Simple Favor and will next appear in the A24 film Misty Green, directed by Chris Rock. But directing is clearly becoming a central pillar of her career, and Evelyn Hugo offers her a chance to tackle a sweeping, emotionally complex narrative with a built-in audience.

What the Adaptation Means for Fans and the Industry

For the millions of readers who have devoured the book, the biggest question is casting. Who will play Evelyn Hugo — a Cuban-American Hollywood legend who navigates seven marriages while hiding a forbidden love affair? The role requires an actress who can embody both the icy glamour of old Hollywood and the vulnerable, layered humanity beneath. With Kendrick’s background as an actor, she is likely to prioritize performance and chemistry over spectacle, which bodes well for fans who feared a superficial adaptation.

The production team is equally impressive. Liza Chasin is producing through 3Dot Productions, alongside Brad Mendelsohn of Circle Management + Productions and David Hinojosa. Taylor Jenkins Reid herself will serve as executive producer, ensuring the adaptation stays true to the novel’s themes — race, sexuality, ambition, and the price of fame. The inclusion of Reid in an oversight role is a strong signal that Netflix intends to treat this adaptation with the same respect granted to Daisy Jones.

From an industry perspective, this project represents a major bet on character-driven storytelling in an era dominated by franchise IP. If Kendrick can deliver a film that balances the book’s intimate interviews with its larger-than-life Hollywood backdrops, it could set a new standard for literary adaptations on streaming platforms. It also reinforces Netflix’s strategy of locking in directors with proven track records in both acting and directing — a formula that has worked with stars like Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, and now Kendrick.

The road to this announcement has been winding. Earlier development cycles saw Maggie Betts and Leslye Headland attached as directors, but both eventually moved on. That turbulence only underscores how tricky it is to bring a beloved novel to life. With Kendrick now committed, the project finally has a singular creative vision — one rooted in a deep understanding of performance, pacing, and narrative intimacy.

As the adaptation moves forward, fans will be watching every development with bated breath. The casting announcements, the first-look images, and the eventual teaser trailer will each be events in their own right. But for now, the foundation is solid: a bestselling novel, a talented director with a hit debut, and a studio that knows how to turn books into cultural moments. If Woman of the Hour proved anything, it’s that Anna Kendrick knows how to tell a story that lingers long after the credits roll. With The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, she may just deliver her most unforgettable one yet.

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