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Buckle up, check your mirrors, and don’t forget to use your signals because Kumail Nanjiani and Molly Shannon are getting behind the wheel for Bobby Farrelly‘s new comedy Driver’s Ed. Production for the film shifts into gear in North Carolina in March, with AGC Studios co-producing and financing.

Bobby Farrelly’s upcoming film makes donuts around a group of teens who steal their school’s driver’s ed car to go on a road trip to help a high school senior track down his college freshman girlfriend and win her back. Farrelly directs Driver’s Ed from a script by Thomas Moffett.

Kumail Nanjiani recently played Nadeem in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and had a recurring role as Rudy Thurber on Only Murders in the Building, the unstoppable comedy series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. He’s also joining the cast of Rian Johnson’s Poker Face...

Emily Henry has taken the romance genre by storm—with several of her romance novels becoming New York Times bestsellers year after year. With her book's ever-growing popularity among fans, it's no surprise that Emily Henry's romance novels are being adapted for screens. From Beach Read, the author's first foray into adult romance, to her latest release, Funny Story, every one of Henry's novels from the last five years has been optioned for TV series or film. And a variety of big-name studios and production houses are already attached to each project.

Henry's relatable and compelling romances make her books a top choice when it comes to romantic book-to-screen adaptations—and if studios stay faithful to the source material, the rom-com adaptations may soon become classics. While each project is currently at different stages of development, there are several large updates to each, including casting, writers, directors, and more.

Romance author Emily Henry now has five of her most recent novels set to be adapted for the big and small screens. Henry went on a rom-com writing spree that began with Beach Read, which came out in the summer of 2020. She has published a book a year since then, with People We Meet on Vacation coming out in 2021, Book Lovers arriving in 2022, Happy Place released in 2023 and Funny Story hitting shelves this year.

Three of Henry’s books received adaptation optioning deals for films, with two of them attaching directors. Starting in 2022, multiple studios made the decision to adapt various Emily Henry books into movies. The Writers’ and Actors’ strikes likely delayed any moves in casting, but a fourth novel has just been optioned by Jennifer Lopez’s production company for a television series adaptation at Netflix.

Read on to learn more about those behind the adaptations of Emily Henry books to movies.

Miles Heizer, Tommy Do, Alice Lee, Alan Ruck, and Molly Shannon are boarding Tom Blyth and Emily Bader in the feature adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation.

Brett Haley directs the Temple Hill, 3000 Pictures and Netflix romantic comedy.

Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey and Isaac Klausner are producing while the studio’s Laura Quicksilver will serve as EP. Erin Siminoff is overseeing the project for 3000 Pictures.

In People We Meet on Vacation, free-spirited Poppy and routine-loving Alex have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else — could they actually be the perfect romantic match?

The Berkely Penguin Random House imprint published novel debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list...

The feature adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestseller “People We Meet on Vacation” has added a few more of those “people,” with Miles Heizer, Tommy Do, Alice Lee, Alan Ruck (“Succession”) and Molly Shannon joining the starry cast.

Tom Blyth and Emily Bader star in the Netflix and 3000 Pictures movie, which follows routine-loving Alex and free-spirited Poppy. The pair “have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together,” the official logline explains. “The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else — could they actually be the perfect romantic match?”

In addition to Blyth and Bader, the ensemble cast also boasts Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount and Lukas Gage. Further character details have yet to be announced.

“People We Meet on Vacation” was published in 2021 by Berkley,...

When Harry Met Sally is lauded as one of the best romantic comedies of all time. Written by Nora Ephron and produced by Rob Reiner, the film offers the slow burn of rom-com lovers' dreams as it follows two recent college graduates who form a complex friendship over the course of decades. The film features gorgeous cinematography of New York City in autumn, and costume and hair changes on Harry and Sally as they age through several decades.

The dynamic between the characters has a timeless feel that continues to resonate with viewers in the 30-plus years since the film's release. The film's cultural significance inspired romance writer on the rise Emily Henry, whose #1 New York Times bestselling novel People We Meet on Vacation will soon get a film adaptation of its own on Netflix.

People We Meet On Vacation Can Be A Spiritual Successor To When Harry Met Sally...

Jameela Jamil is among the stars to have been cast in Netflix’s ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ movie adaptation.The 38-year-old actress will be joined by the likes of Lucien Laviscount (‘Emily in Paris’), Lukas Gage (‘Smile 2’) and Sarah Catherine Hook - who is due to appear in the third season of HBO's drama ‘The White Lotus’ - in Netflix’s upcoming adaption of author Emily Henry’s 2021 novel of the same name. Directed by ‘The Hero’ filmmaker Brett Haley and written by Yulin Kuang, the picture will star Tom Blyth and Emily Bader as longtime best friends Alex and Poppy who take yearly holidays together, only to suddenly stop talking to one another for two years.The couple’s relationship is thrown into question when Poppy reaches out to her old pal to convince him to take another vacation with her, and the pair soon find themselves...

The cast of Netflix’s adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation is starting to come together.

Earlier this summer, it was announced that Tom Blyth and Emily Bader had landed the starring roles in the movie, which is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by author Emily Henry.

Now, Lukas Gage, Lucien Laviscount, Jameela Jamil and Sarah Catherine Hook have joined the cast!

Keep reading to find out more…

According to reporting by Deadline, the quartet have landed unspecified roles. They’ll work under director Brett Haley.

People We Meet On Vacation follows “free-spirited Poppy and routine-loving Alex who have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else — could they actually be the perfect romantic match?...

Emily Henry’s friends-to-lovers bestseller People We Meet on Vacation is headed to Netflix. On August 2, the streamer announced the two leads of the upcoming romance adaptation, and fans will not be disappointed. Several of Henry’s novels are headed to the screen, but all eyes are on People We Meet on Vacation. TV Insider has the latest updates about the highly-anticipated film adaptation. Who is playing Poppy and Alex in People We Meet on Vacation? My Lady Jane breakout Emily Bader has been cast as Poppy Wright. She’ll be joined by The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Tom Blyth, who will play Alex Nilsen. Director Brett Haley broke the news to Bader via Zoom. “Oh, I’m gonna cry,” an emotional Bader responded. Blyth joined the call and congratulated Bader. Henry surprised the leads and showed her support for the film. “I have been,...

New additions to the cast of the upcoming adaptation of Emily Henry‘s best-seller have been announced.

Netflix announced Wednesday that Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, and Lukas Gage are set to join Tom Blyth and Emily Bader in the feature adaptation of Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation.

Their roles in the film are to be announced.

News of the casting comes amid Blyth and Bader being announced as the romantic leads. My Lady Jane star Bader will portray Poppy while The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star Blyth will star as Alex. The story will follow the longtime best friends who took one week of every summer vacation together. However, things changed when they stopped speaking for two years. When Poppy reaches out and convinces Alex to take one more vacation together, she sees it as her time to fix their broken relationship.

Pack your bags, because it’s time for Poppy and Alex’s summer trip. Tom Blyth and Emily Bader have been cast as the leads in People We Meet on Vacation, the upcoming adaptation of the beloved Emily Henry novel. Joining them on their adventure is an ensemble cast that includes Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, and Lukas Gage.

“I’ve been kind of an anxious wreck about who would play these characters,” Henry told Netflix. “I truly could not feel more confident that my readers and then so many more people who don’t even know about the book are going to completely fall in love with Poppy and Alex.”

Directed by Brett Haley,the film is being produced in partnership with Sony Pictures. Read on for more information about People We Meet on Vacation — it’s all happening!

Free-spirited Poppy (Bader) and routine-loving Alex...

Netflix’s highly anticipated adaptation of the Emily Henry novel “People We Meet on Vacation” is casting up. After revealing that Emily Bader (“My Lady Jane” ) and Tom Blyth (“Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”) will lead the romantic comedy film, Netflix announced on Wednesday that Lukas Gage (“You”), Jameela Jamil (“The Good Place”), Lucien Laviscount (“Emily in Paris”) and Sarah Catherine Hook (“First Kill”) have joined the ensemble.

The actors’ specific roles in the film were not disclosed, but fans of the book can likely made educated guesses.

Based on the 2021 bestseller, “People We Meet on Vacation” follows free-spirited Poppy and routine-loving Alex, who have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. Per Netflix’s synopsis, the “careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone...

Sarah Catherine Hook (The White Lotus), Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), Lucien Laviscount (Emily in Paris), and Lukas Gage (Smile 2) have joined the cast of People We Meet on Vacation, the forthcoming adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestseller from Netflix and 3000 Pictures, on which we were first to report.

Details as to the quartet’s roles are under wraps. Tom Blyth and Emily Bader topline the pic from director Brett Haley (I’ll See You in My Dreams), which marks Henry’s first book adaptation to go into production.

The film follows free-spirited Poppy and routine-loving Alex, who have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else — could they actually be the perfect romantic match?

Published in 2021 by Berkley,...

Tom Blyth and Emily Bader have been cast as the leads in Netflix's People We Meet on Vacation. Bader is the star of the Prime Video historical fantasy show My Lady Jane. Blyth is best known for playing young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Netflix's People We Meet on Vacation has found its romantic leads. The upcoming movie is based on the 2021 New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Emily Henry, which follows polar opposite best friends Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen, whose yearly vacations are broken off for two years after an incident that causes a rift between them. However, when they reunite for one more trip, more than friendship may blossom between them. The story will be brought to the screen by director Brett Haley, who previously helmed 2018's Hearts Beat Loud.

Per Deadline, Tom Blyth and...

Emily Henry’s friends-to-lovers bestseller People We Meet on Vacation is headed to Netflix. On August 2, the streamer announced the two leads of the upcoming romance adaptation, and fans will not be disappointed. Several of Henry’s novels are headed to the screen, but all eyes are on People We Meet on Vacation. TV Insider has the latest updates about the highly-anticipated film adaptation. Who is playing Poppy and Alex in People We Meet on Vacation? My Lady Jane breakout Emily Bader has been cast as Poppy Wright. She’ll be joined by The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Tom Blyth, who will play Alex Nilsen. Director Brett Haley broke the news to Bader via Zoom. “Oh, I’m gonna cry,” an emotional Bader responded. Blyth joined the call and congratulated Bader. Henry surprised the leads and showed her support for the film. “I have been,...

The first casting announcement for one of the upcoming adaptations of Emily Henry’s bestselling books has been made.

Tom Blyth and Emily Bader are set to star in the feature adaptation of Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation, it was announced Friday.

My Lady Jane star Bader will portray Poppy while The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star Blyth will star as Alex. The story will follow the longtime best friends who took one week of every summer vacation together. However, things changed when they stopped speaking for two years. When Poppy reaches out and convinces Alex to take one more vacation together, she sees it as her time to fix their broken relationship. But there’s one unspoken truth they have yet to confront: Are they really just friends or is there more to their relationship?

Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation was published in 2021 by Berkley,...

And just like that, the film adaptation of Emily Henry's bestselling novel People We Meet on Vacation has its leading stars.

On Friday, Aug. 2, Netflix made the official announcement that a movie based on Henry's book was in the works and that the leads are now set. The streamer shared a post on social media featuring director Brett Haley offering the role of Poppy Wright to actress Emily Bader. The film's leading man Tom Blyth, who will play the film's Alex Nilsen, also joined the celebratory video.

Watch Bader's emotional excitement in the video below!

Watch Emily Bader find out she's starring opposite Tom Blyth in People We Meet on Vacation — the feature adaptation of Emily Henry’s best-selling novel directed by Brett Haley. pic.twitter.com/XY90QJI36B

— Netflix (@netflix) August 2, 2024

In People We Meet on Vacation, Poppy and Alex are total opposites but have...

Exclusive: Tom Blyth and Emily Bader are set to star in 3000 Pictures and Netflix’s adaptation of People We Meet On Vacation. The film will be based on Emily Henry’s New York Times best-seller and is the first book adaptation by best-selling author Emily Henry to go into production. Brett Haley is directing.

Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey and Isaac Klausner are producing. Temple Hill’s Laura Quicksilver is serving as Executive Producer. Erin Siminoff is overseeing the project for the studio. The film is being produced under the partnership where Sony Pictures will offer Netflix a first look at any films it intends to make for streaming.

The film follows free-spirited Poppy and routine-loving Alex who have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test...

Exclusive: Grandview has promoted Cooper McCary to manager.

McCary, who joined Grandview in 2021 from Paradigm, has a client list that includes Benjy Steinberg, who won the Sundance Episodic Fellowship Grant in 2023; Brett Haley, slated to direct the adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation for 3000 Pictures and Temple Hill; Cambron Clark, whose spec screenplay Madden was recently picked up by Amazon with David O Russell directing, Will Ferrell starring and Escape Artists producing; Christina Halli Lee, a staff writer for Season 2 of Mr and Mrs. Smith on Prime Video; the writing trio S.E. Boyd, currently adapting their debut novel The Lemon for Wiip; and Shyam Popat, a staff writer for Season 3 of House of the Dragon on HBO.

“Grandview has been a tremendous source of growth, support, and learning,” said McCary, who had been a coordinator in the Independent Finance Department at Paradigm before joining Grandview.

Funny Story has become the latest Emily Henry novel to get a feature film adaptation deal, and the author herself will adapt the book for the big screen.

Henry will write the script of her latest novel, which was published April 23 by Public Random House. Funny Story marks Henry’s fifth romantic comedy book in four years.

The story follows children’s librarian Daphne, who has just been broken up with by her fiancé Peter, who quickly moved on to his childhood best friend, Petra. Forced out of their living situation, Daphne takes up residence with Miles, Petra’s ex-boyfriend. The pair hatch a fake dating scheme to make their exes jealous at the wedding, but as with the popular trope, the pair’s shared desire for revenge could spark a whole new flame.

Lyrical Media’s Alexander Black and Natalie Sellers as well as Ryder Picture Company’s Aaron Ryder...

Dive into Emily Henry's romance novels, each a unique love story worth exploring for romantics and skeptics alike. From "Beach Read" to "Happy Place," Emily Henry's books strike a balance between witty banter and emotional depth. While "People We Meet on Vacation" may not be Henry's top project, her talent for crafting relatable characters shines through.

When researching the romance book genre, it is impossible not to stumble upon Emily Henry, the New York Times bestselling author behind such hits as Beach Read, and most recently, Funny Story, and while her books are all slam dunks in the book world, they can certainly still be ranked, worst to best. Although Emily Henry began publishing novels all the way back in 2016, she didn't start writing adult romance until 2020. In that year, the author took off, and since then, her books have been critically acclaimed and enjoyed by masses of readers,...

Emily Henry fans had a field day last week when the author shared a St. Patrick’s day selfie of “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri and “Normal People’s” Paul Mescal.

While Edebiri posted the original image to her Instagram, it was reposts from Henry and screenwriter Yulin Kuang that made fans start to assume that the actors may have been cast in one of the films being adapted from Henry’s romance books: “People We Meet on Vacation,” for which Kuang is writing the screenplay; “Beach Read,” with Kuang writing and directing; or “Book Lovers,” being developed by the company that produced Mescal’s “Aftersun.”

The posts came just months after Mescal said in an interview that he hoped to star in a rom-com with Edebiri sometime in the next five years.

“I can’t confirm or deny anything with casting for any movie. I will say that those...

Scrambled is a comedy film based on Leah McKendrick's own experiences with egg retrieval, filled with heartbreak, self-reflection, and humor. McKendrick transformed her personal life into a screenplay, using her own emotions and experiences to create an authentic and relatable story. The movie explores the loneliness and existential aspects of egg freezing, shedding light on a topic that has not been widely depicted in cinema yet.

Scrambled follows Nellie Robinson as she watches her friends tackle a new stage in life with an endless barrage of weddings and baby showers. As Nellie loses hope of finding "the one" after several bad dates, she begins to contemplate egg retrieval to keep her options open in the future. This decision sets Nellie off on a journey of self-discovery full of heartbreak, self-reflection, and comedy.

Leah McKendrick wears many hats as the star, writer, and director of Scrambled, which is based on...

20th Century Studios is adapting Emily Henry’s “Beach Read” with Yulin Kuang adapting and directing, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.

Original Film is producing the adaptation of the romantic comedy novel, which tells the story of authors January Andrews and Augustus Everett, who have college history and who find themselves at the same lake for the summer trying to write their next novels. The two make a deal to swap genres in a competitive bet that sparks chemistry.

“Yulin is not only one of the top 5 ‘Beach Read’ stans, but she’s also, I would argue, the world’s foremost ‘Beach Read’ expert. She’s been preparing for this for a long time,” Henry wrote in her substack newsletter “Emily’s Grocery List. “She’s been picking my brain. She’s visited all of the real-life places that inspired ‘Beach Read’ and also just admitted...

Exclusive: Yulin Kuang has been tapped to adapt and direct Emily Henry’s popular novel Beach Read into a feature film for 20th Century Studios. Original Film is producing.

The novel is a romantic comedy that tells the story of two authors who swap genres for the summer. The book has been a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by numerous publications including Oprah Magazine and Goodreads.

An Emmy-nominated writer and director, Kuang recently adapted another Henry novel, the New York Times bestselling People We Meet on Vacation, for 3000 Pictures with Temple Hill producing and Brett Haley attached to direct.

On the publishing side, Kuang recently scored a three-book, seven-figure deal at Avon after a six-way auction for her debut novel Good in a Room, which is expected in February 2024.

She is repped by UTA, Kaplan / Perrone Entertainment and attorney Philip Klein.

Tango, the film and television development financier and producer founded by Lia Buman and Tim Headington, announced Tuesday that it will adapte Emily Henry’s best-seller “Book Lovers” into a feature film.

Sarah Heyward, writer and producer on HBO’s Emmy-winning “Girls” will write the script, produced by Tango.

“Emily is a dominant force in the world of romantic comedy and we feel so lucky to bring to the screen a story that has already delighted so many on the page,” Buman said The irreverent and whip smart writing delivers on classic romcom tropes while avoiding cliches, making it perfect for a cozy and refreshing adaptation.”

Also Read:

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni to Star in Adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Smash Hit ‘It Ends With Us’

Henry’s novel tells the story of Nora and Charlie. Nora demands the best for her clients as a go-getter literary agent, and...

“Book Lovers,” a subversive romantic comedy and bestselling novel from Emily Henry, is getting the feature film treatment.

Movie rights have been picked up by Tango, Lia Buman’s film and television development financier and producer. Sarah Hayward is attached to write the script.

“Emily is a dominant force in the world of romantic comedy and we feel so lucky to bring to the screen a story that has already delighted so many on the page. The irreverent and whip smart writing delivers on classic romcom tropes while avoiding cliches, making it perfect for a cozy and refreshing adaptation,” Buman said.

The novel follows Nora, a cutthroat literary agent who, convinced by her sister to spend an August holiday in North Carolina, keeps running into Charlie, a bookish, brooding editor from the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

Book Lovers — the New York Times bestseller from Emily Henry — is getting the movie treatment.

Tango — the production-finance outfit behind Aftersun and Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story — will develop and produce the rom-com as a feature film. Girls and Modern Love writer Sarah Heyward is attached to adapt.

The book, which was published by Penguin Random House imprint Berkley, follows a literary agent, Nora, and a brooding book editor Charlie who run into each other during a summer holiday in North Carolina. The synopsis reads: “It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again — in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow — what they discover might just...

Tango, the producer of the Sundance pic Shortcomings, is continuing to set up its future slate as it has come on to adapt the subversive rom com novel Book Lovers, into a feature film based on the #1 New York Times Bestseller from Emily Henry, the hit author behind three other New York Times Bestsellers over the last three years. Sarah Heyward is attached to write the script, which will be produced by Tango.

Book Lovers tells the story of Nora, a cutthroat literary agent who, convinced by her sister to spend one August holiday in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, keeps running into Charlie, a bookish, brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero,...

Exclusive: Former Netflix exec Janice Lee has joined Fifth Season as Vice President, Film Development and Production, with longtime team member Kara Duncan being promoted to the same role. The news comes as the global film and TV studio, formerly known as Endeavor Content, kicks off the year with four films heading to Sundance and another two soon heading to theaters.

As members of the team led by EVP, Film Development and Production, Alexis Garcia, Lee and Duncan will be responsible for expanding the studio’s slate of indie and big- budget features, made with top-tier talent for distribution on streaming platforms and in theaters. The pair will report to SVPs, Film Development and Production, Dan Guando and Negeen Yazdi.

After seeing major success at Sundance 2022 with Cha Cha Real Smooth, the Cooper Raiff Audience Award winner that went to Apple in the largest sale of the festival, Fifth Season...

Paramount+ is hoping its latest series will be the one that you want. Like greased lightnin’ (go greased lightnin’), the “Grease” prequel series “Rise of the Pink Ladies” is racing to the streamer on April 6, in time for you to binge it over those summer nights eventually. Paramount+ announced the news from their January 9 presentation for the Television Critic’s Association Winter press tour and, because there are worse things they could do, released a short teaser for the teen musical series to accompany it.

The series is a prequel to “Grease,” the 1978 film itself adapted from the 1971 stage musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Directed by Randal Kleiser, the movie was led by John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John as star-crossed greaser Danny Zuko and good girl Sandy Olsson, but the film became a cultural sensation (raking in 366.2 million at the global box office) thanks in part to the memorable supporting cast,...

Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho, and Jaquel Spivey join the ensemble cast of Paramount Pictures’ new Mean Girls film based on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical in the roles of Cady, Regina, Janis and Damian, respectively.

Lorne Michaels is producing with Tina Fey. Erin David, Caroline Maroney, and Micah Frank are overseeing for Broadway Video, and Eric Gurian and Jeff Richmond for Little Stranger. Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne are directing with Fey writing the adaptation.

The film is based on the stage musical Mean Girls written by Fey, with music by Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Paramount Pictures is adapting the new film for Paramount+.

Most recently, Rice starred in Paramount+ and Awesomeness films’ dark comedy Honor Society in which Rice played the titular role of Honor. The feature quickly rose to #1 on the streamer following its release. Rice also appeared alongside Rebel Wilson in the Netflix comedy Senior Year.

Exclusive: Echo Lake Entertainment has signed actress Alisha Wainwright (Raising Dion) for management in all areas.

Wainwright most recently starred on the Macro-produced Netflix series Raising Dion, based on the comic book of the same name, as Nicole Warren, a single mother whose son Dion (Ja’Siah Young) has magical, superhero-like abilities.

The actress is otherwise best known for starring as the strong-willed werewolf Maia Roberts on the popular supernatural drama series Shadowhunters, based on the Mortal Instruments book series by Cassandra Clare, which aired on Freeform for three seasons.

The actress also notably starred alongside Justin Timberlake and more in the feature drama Palmer, which Fisher Stevens directed for Apple TV+. She’ll next be seen starring alongside opposite Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne on the Sony Pictures Television-produced comedy series Platonic, which Francesca Delbanco and Nick Stoller created, wrote and directed for Apple TV+.

Echo Lake Entertainment is...

Best-selling author Emily Henry’s book “People We Meet on Vacation” movie adaptation has recruited Brett Haley as its director and Yulin Kuang to adapt the screenplay, TheWrap has learned.

Haley was previously best known for writing and directing “Hearts Beat Loud,” starring Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner, and Toni Collette. His other credits include “The Hero,” which premiered at Sundance in competition in 2017, “All The Bright Places” starring Elle Fanning, and “All Together Now,” which was also recently released on Netflix. Haley has also directed an episode for the Hulu limited series Looking For Alaska, based on the award-winning novel of the same name.

Deadline first reported the news.

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How to Watch ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’: Is the Adaptation Streaming?

Published in 2021 by Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, the novel debuted on the New York Times bestseller list,...

Exclusive: Brett Haley is on board to direct 3000 Pictures’ adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation, which is based on Emily Henry’s New York Times bestseller. Yulin Kuang is adapting the screenplay, with Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey and Isaac Klausner producing. Laura Quicksilver is overseeing the project for Temple Hill, with Erin Siminoff and Sophie Kaplan overseeing for the studio.

The story follows Alex and Poppy, who have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Exclusive: Lionsgate has acquired worldwide rights to Scrambled, written by and starring Leah McKendrick, who makes her feature directorial debut on the comedy, which just wrapped filming.

Produced by Jonathan Levine and Gillian Bohrer’s Megamix, along with Brett Haley and Amanda Mortimer, and executive producer Mariah Owen, the film stars McKendrick as Nellie Robinson, a broke, single 34-year-old, fresh off a breakup, who faces down an existential crisis when she decides to freeze her eggs. McKendrick wrote the script following her own egg-retrieval experience last year.

The ensemble cast includes Ego Nwodim, Andrew Santino (Dave), Clancy Brown, Laura Cerón, Adam Rodriguez, Yvonne Strahovski (Handmaid’s Tale), June Diane Raphael, Noah Silver (Tyrant), and Sterling Sulieman (Station 19). The cast also includes Max Adler, Mimi Kennedy, Camille Mana, and Matt Pascua.

Exclusive: Musician and filmmaker Flying Lotus has set the sci-fi horror film Ash as his second feature, on the heels of his body horror anthology Kuso, which made its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

The new film, for which the multi-hyphenate will also compose an original score, watches as a woman wakes up on a distant planet and finds the crew of her space station viciously killed, her investigation into what happened setting in motion a terrifying chain of events.

Jonni Remmler penned the original screenplay. XYZ Films and Gfc Films will produce, with Echo Lake on board as exec producer. XYZ is also financing and handling worldwide sales. Casting will get underway later this month, with production slated for this summer.

Ash follows XYZ’s collaboration with Gfc on Toa Fraser’s New Zealand Oscar entry The Dead Lands, which was presented to the U.S. market by James Cameron,...

Exclusive: The Gotham Group has optioned Catherine Raven’s New York Times bestselling memoir Fox & I: An Uncommon Friendship for film.

The debut book from the newly-launched Spiegel & Grau, released on July 6, watches as an unexpected friendship blossoms between a solitary woman and a wild fox.

A self-described misfit in the world of people, Raven left home at 15 and headed west to work as a National Park Service ranger. Over time, she earned a Ph.D. in biology and built a house on an isolated plot of land in Montana. Then, a mangy-looking fox began appearing on her property every day at 4:15 pm.

She had never had a regular visitor before, so she placed her camping chair as near to him as she dared and began reading aloud from The Little Prince. Her scientific training had taught her not to anthropomorphize animals, yet as she grew to know Fox,...

Rowan Blanchard (Snowpiercer) and Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) have signed on to star in an untitled coming-of-age film, which Sammi Cohen is directing for Hulu.

The film scripted by Kirsten King and Casey Rackham centers on an aspiring artist who is forced to join her high school track team, using it as an opportunity to pursue the girl she’s been harboring a long-time crush on. Later, though, she finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate, only then discovering what real love feels like.

Blanchard will play Paige, the aspiring artist who’s thrust out of her comfort zone. Cravalho will portray Aj, an elusive track star who has always lived in the shadow of her twin sister.

Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps and Ryan Bennett of American High are producing with Andrew Miano of Depth of Field; Natasha Lyonne, Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens of Animal Pictures; Katie Newman of...

Rowan Blanchard and Auli’i Cravalho have signed on to lead Hulu’s upcoming queer teen movie from director Sammi Cohen.

Blanchard will play Paige, an aspiring artist who’s thrust out of her comfort zone when forced to join the track team captained by her longtime crush, but she soon finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate, ultimately discovering what real love feels like. Cravalho will play Aj, an elusive track star who has always lived in the shadow of her twin sister.

Written by Kirsten King and Casey Rackham, the untitled film is produced by Animal Pictures’ Natasha Lyonne, Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens; American High’s Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps, Ryan Bennett; Depth of Field’s Andrew Miano; 3Arts’ Katie Newman; and Ld Entertainment’s Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon. Executive producers are Depth of Field’s Britta Rowings and Dan Balgoyen, with Rowings overseeing production; Michael Glassman...

Paramount+ has ordered “Grease” prequel series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” which hails from Paramount Television Studios, TheWrap has confirmed.

“Rise of the Pink Ladies,” created by showrunner Annabel Oakes (“Atypical”), has a 10-episode order. Oakes will also serve as the writer, executive producer and showrunner.

In addition to Oakes, Marty Bowen will executive produce the streaming show via Temple Hill. Erik Feig joins him through PictureStart.

“Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” is set four years before the original “Grease.” Or as Paramount puts it: “Before rock ‘n’ roll ruled, before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school, four fed-up, outcast girls dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever.”

The original “Grease,” which starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, took the world by storm in 1978. Based on the 1971 musical, it was set in the late 1950s.

Exclusive: Studiocanal and The Picture Company won a competitive auction for feature rights to Shipworm, a podcast by Two-Up.

The script will be written by Zack Akers, who wrote the podcast which was released last month. Skip Bronkie produced it. The Picture Company partners Andrew Rona & Alex Heineman will produce the film under their overall deal at Studiocanal. Bronke will be executive producer.

Shipworm is the fourth podcast from Two-Up partners Akers and Bronkie, whose Limetown was turned into a Peacock series they exec produced, starring Jessica Biel and Stanley Tucci, with a book deal also through Simon & Schuster. The musical 36 Questions is in development at Netflix and Endeavor Content, Chernin Entertainment and Fred Berger producing, with Brett Haley writing and directing.

Shipworm is a first of its kind feature-length audio movie that revolves around a man who wakes up to realize he’s been implanted with an untraceable earpiece while sleeping.

Exclusive: Golden Globe-nominated writer Liz Hannah has signed an overall deal with MRC Television and Civic Center Media, a joint venture between UTA and MRC. Under the pact, Hannah will develop and produce television projects with the indie studio partnership through her newly launched company, Happy Friday Productions. Hannah’s goal for Happy Friday Prods. is to tell stories and produce feature film and television projects with authentic perspectives and voices which she will produce alongside Brittany Kahan Ward.

“Liz is a beautiful storyteller who creates worlds that both swallow you up and leave you feeling inspired,” said MRC Television President Elise Henderson. “Her characters have an authenticity, specificity and relatability that connect audiences to their journey, and more importantly to the messages that transcend them.”

Hannah is currently executive producing and serving as showrunner alongside Patrick Macmanus on Hulu/UCP’s The Girl From Plainville,...

Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson, and Devon Sawa are on board to star in the new crime action-thriller “Gasoline Alley,” directed by Edward Drake from a script by Tom Sierchio, Highland Film Group announced Thursday.

Principal photography will commence in March across the U.S. Highland Film Group is handling international rights and introducing the project to buyers at the virtual European Film Market.

“Gasoline Alley” centers on Jimmy Jayne (Sawa), a bruised-fisted rockabilly boss-type sucked into a triple murder of three Hollywood starlets drowned in a luxury hotel pool. As the prime suspect for homicide detectives Freeman (Willis) and Vargas (Wilson), Jimmy takes up his own rogue investigation, bending the law in ways the police can’t in order to clear his name. With the killer skating through Jimmy’s shadow, he bands together with the two detectives to dangerously expose a truth much bigger than they had imagined.

“Gasoline Alley is a killer action-thriller,...

Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson and Devon Sawa are set to star in rollicking action thriller “Gasoline Alley.” Highland Film Group, which is handling international rights, is presenting the project to buyers at this week’s European Film Market (EFM).

“Cosmic Sin” helmer Edward Drake, who reunites with Willis for the film, directs from a script by Tom Sierchio (“The Girl Who Invented Kissing”). Production will begin in early March across the U.S.

Sawa stars as Jimmy Jayne, a “bruise-fisted” boss-type who becomes implicated in the triple murder of three Hollywood starlets drowned in a luxury hotel pool. As the prime suspect for homicide detectives Freeman (Willis) and Vargas (Wilson), Jimmy takes up his own rogue investigation, bending the law in ways the police can’t in order to clear his name.

But with the killer skating through Jimmy’s shadow, he bands together with the two detectives to dangerously...

Krysten Ritter has signed with CAA for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively.

Ritter joins the agency from WME. She continues to be managed by Kyle Luker at Industry Entertainment and Steve Caserta at Principal Entertainment LA. Her attorney is Dave Feldman at Brecheen, Feldman, Breimer, Silver & Thompson; and her publicists are Lindsay Krug and Rhett Usry at ID Public Relations.

Ritter is an actress, director, and author. She is best known for her starring role in the Marvel-Netflix series “Jessica Jones” and the subsequent crossover series “The Defenders.” She also made her directorial debut in the third season of “Jessica Jones.”

She is also known for her starring role in the ABC comedy “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23” and for playing the character Jane Margolis in the hit AMC series “Breaking Bad.” She reprised the latter role in the 2019 feature “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.

Since its publication in 2015, Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places has been in talks for a screen adaptation. At last, in February 2020, the movie hit Netflix's catalog. Starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith, directed by Brett Haley, and co-written by Niven herself, the film stays reasonably close to the book's story.

Related: All The Bright Places: 10 Films To Watch If You Liked Netflix's Romantic Movie

Violet's sister has recently died in a car accident for which she feels responsible, while Finch is dealing with demons of his own. The pair meet, team up on a school project, and as they get to know each other, they realize they're helping each other. Though the movie is aesthetically pleasing, it misses a few important details from the book.

Brett Haley wants to make a ton of different kinds of films. That much is clear just looking at the movies he’s made over his short yet productive career. Efforts like I’ll See You in My Dreams, The Hero, Hearts Beat Loud, All the Bright Places, and All Together Now showcase a diverse interest that supersedes any one style in particular. Haley has said as much, including to me last week when we shared a Zoom call to discuss All Together Now. Having moderated a weekend of Q&a events three years ago with him, Sam Elliott, and Laura Prepon, for the opening of The Hero (remember when you could be in the same room with people), we know each other a bit, which hopefully makes the following conversation an easy listen. Below you can find my chat with Haley. We touch on All Together Now (my rave...

An adaptation of Silver Linings Playbook author Matthew Quick’s novel Sorta Like a Rockstar takes on homelessness with a heavy dose of sugar

Brett Haley’s charming 2018 music drama Hearts Beat Loud should have been the toast of Sundance after its festival premiere. It was a sweet, progressive and warm-hearted crowd-pleaser, the kind that the festival has typically become known for launching, harking back to everything from Little Miss Sunshine to Juno. But polite acclaim didn’t lead to buzzy word of mouth which then failed to secure any box office that summer, a sign that for a certain type of feelgood indie, crossing over from Park City to the multiplex has became harder than it once was.

Related: All the Bright Places review – teen charm can't lift maudlin Netflix drama...

On the surface, the Ya adaptation All Together Now may seem like something Netflix is releasing in an effort to capture the tween market. Sure, it’s adapted from a Ya novel and has an appealing young cast, but the secret weapon here is that it’s made by an old soul in Brett Haley. The filmmaker made his bones directing veteran actors and actresses who were due starring roles, like Sam Elliott and Blythe Danner, before recently moving towards younger skewing casts. Now, this latest effort of his shows how effective material potentially meant for a younger audience can be in the right hands. Haley’s sure nature and talented direction makes this a family friendly but wholly effective work that’s absolutely heartwarming. The film is a drama, based on the novel Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick. Amber Appleton (Auli’i Cravalho) is the kind of...