The search for a director to tackle one of the most coveted properties in Hollywood has finally ended. Anna Kendrick is stepping into the director’s chair for Netflix’s adaptation of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

It is a massive swing for the streamer. The project has been in development limbo for years, cycling through multiple high-profile directors before landing on Kendrick. Netflix is betting that her proven eye for tension can translate the novel’s sprawling, decades-spanning narrative into a cinematic event.

A Proven Track Record

Kendrick’s transition to directing was not just a vanity project. Her debut, Woman of the Hour, was a critical success that turned heads at the Toronto Film Festival. Netflix paid eight figures for the rights in 2023. They were impressed. They wanted her back.

After the success of that film, the studio made it a priority to keep her in the fold. They offered her several scripts. She chose Evelyn Hugo. It makes sense. The material is dense, character-driven, and demands a director who understands the mechanics of a slow-burn mystery.

The Weight of the Source Material

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel is a cultural phenomenon. It has sold over 24 million copies worldwide. On TikTok, the book’s hashtag has generated over 759 million views. It is a juggernaut.

The story follows a reclusive Hollywood icon who finally agrees to give a tell-all interview to a young journalist. She recounts her seven marriages, her rise to fame, and the dark secrets she kept hidden for decades. It is a story about the cost of ambition. It is also a story about the lies people tell to survive.

Adapting it is no small task. Liz Tigelaar wrote the initial draft, but the script is currently undergoing revisions by Francesca Sloane. The production team is equally stacked, with Liza Chasin of 3Dot Productions leading the charge alongside Brad Mendelsohn and David Hinojosa.

Why This Matters Now

Netflix has held the rights to the book since 2022. They have been patient. They have also been cautious. Previous attempts to get the film off the ground stalled, leaving fans wondering if the adaptation would ever materialize.

By tapping Kendrick, Netflix is signaling a shift in strategy. They are moving away from the carousel of directors that defined the project’s early years. They want stability. They want a clear vision.

Kendrick is currently balancing her directing work with a busy acting schedule, including the upcoming A24 film Misty Green with Chris Rock. She is a performer who understands the industry from the inside out. That perspective is vital here. The film requires a director who can handle the glamour of old Hollywood without losing the grit of the human story beneath it.

Key Takeaways

  • Anna Kendrick will direct the adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestseller The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for Netflix.
  • The project has been in development since 2022, with multiple directors previously attached before Kendrick took the role.
  • The film is currently in the script revision phase, with Francesca Sloane working on the latest draft.

For now, the project remains in the early stages of pre-production. There is no release date. There is no cast. But for the first time in years, there is a clear path forward. The question is no longer if the film will be made. It is whether Kendrick can capture the scale of a story that has already captured the world.