Anna Kendrick’s 2024 directorial debut, “Woman of the Hour,” was a gutsy balancing act of black comedy and hardcore thriller elements; it didn’t all work, but it was still a strong debut behind the camera for the actress.
Kendrick’s film was bought out of TIFF by Netflix for $11M, the biggest sale of the fest that year. Reviews were also strong: 74 on Metacritic, and 91% fresh on RT. Too bad it skipped theatrical, although it was a massive streaming hit. During the week of October 14, 2024 (shortly after its debut), it became the #1 movie globally on Netflix with over half a billion minutes viewed.
Netflix clearly wants to continue this partnership. The streamer has teamed up with Kendrick on her sophomore effort, an adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.”
According to Deadline, after “Woman of the Hour,” Netflix “worked hard to make sure” Kendrick’s next directing outing was with them, and after reviewing multiple scripts, “Evelyn Hugo” emerged as the strongest fit for both parties, especially given Netflix’s sustained enthusiasm for the project since acquiring the rights to the book in 2022.
Kendrick is now the third director to be attached to the project; when it was first announced in 2022, Leslye Headland was set to direct, before being replaced two years later by Maggie Betts (“Novitiate”), who ultimately exited the project due to development changes as the adaptation continued to evolve. Kendrick has now come in to replace Betts.
‘Evelyn Hugo’ follows an aging Hollywood icon who, through a long-awaited interview with a young journalist, reveals the truth behind her seven marriages and decades of industry scandals, betrayals, and hidden personal history.
Reid’s novel became a major cultural and commercial success, selling over 24 million copies worldwide and generating massive engagement across platforms like TikTok.
The script for the adaptation originated with Liz Tigelaar (“Tiny Beautiful Things”), with revisions currently being handled by Francesca Sloane (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Atlanta”). No word yet on the cast or when production is supposed to commence.
The sequel looks like a vehicle to reunite Kidman and Bullock. Moviegoers are responding. This might turn out to be Warner Bros.’ biggest hit of the year—until “Dune 3”—and will easily outpace “Supergirl.”