After years of false starts, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo finally has real momentum, and fans of the beloved book have plenty of reasons to be excited.
(The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo via Simon & Schuster)
The Book That Broke BookTok
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s 2017 novel follows a fictional Old Hollywood star who gives her first and only tell-all interview, revealing the truth behind her seven marriages and decades of showbiz secrets.
The book wasn’t an instant hit, but it exploded on BookTok in 2021 and has spent more than 120 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list since.
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Anna Kendrick Is Officially Directing
Netflix confirmed in June that Anna Kendrick will direct the adaptation, taking over after two previous filmmakers, Leslye Headland and Maggie Betts, departed the project for undisclosed reasons.
Kendrick made her directorial debut with 2024’s Woman of the Hour, and she’ll next appear onscreen in Chris Rock’s Misty Green.
Anna Admits That She’s Feeling the Pressure
Speaking to E! News at TIFF during the premiere of her film Babies, Anna opened up about how seriously she’s taking the project.
“I’m thinking about the fans all the time,” she said, adding that she wants to track down devoted readers to understand exactly what makes the book resonate so deeply.
“I am desperate to get it right,” she admitted.
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No Casting News Yet
The script is still being finalized, and no casting decisions have been made public. Anna has remained tight-lipped, joking that she can’t risk letting anything slip.
Fans have floated names including Eiza González for the title role, and Eiza has said that she’d love to be considered, though she hasn’t confirmed any involvement.
With a director who clearly understands what the book means to its readers, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo finally feels like it’s in good hands and ready to move forward after getting stuck in production limbo.
No release date has been announced yet, but between Anna Kendrick’s dedication and Netflix’s renewed push, this adaptation is finally starting to feel real.
Anna Kendrick has been making headlines at TIFF 2026. Click HERE to discover everything that’s happened so far at the Toronto Independent Film Festival this year.
