It’s been a long road to get “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” movie adaptation in motion, but it appears things may be moving forward. Netflix announced in 2022 that it was adapting Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best-selling 2017 book into a feature film. But since then, not much has been r eported about the project’s production. However, on June 1, TODAY.com confirmed that Anna Kendrick will be directing the drama for the streaming service. Deadline was first to report the news. Anna Kendrick previously directed the Netflix thriller “Woman of the Hour.” This will be Kendrick’s second directorial feat. The actor previously directed and starred in the thriller “Woman of the Hour,” about a woman who goes on a dating game show and ends up on a date with a serial killer. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” follows a reporter named Monique Grant who she gets the assignment of the century: interviewing the elusive Hollywood legend Evelyn Hugo, who is ready to spill her life story after years away from the spotlight. Grant soon learns about Hugo’s early days as an aspiring actor, leading to her many, many marriages and a secret here and there. The Hollywood star is a goldmine of juicy headline-making stories, yet she is also a very complex woman who intrigues Grant. Deadline reports that Liz Tigelaar wrote the first draft of the script and Francesca Sloane is currently working on revisions. No release date or casting news has been announced at this time but fans of the book already had someone in mind for a specific role. The novel, a New York Times bestseller, became quite popular on BookTok with fans petitioning for Jessica Chastain to star as red-headed starlet and Hugo’s adversary Celia St. James. Celebrity News 16 hours ago Sabrina Carpenter granted restraining order against alleged stalker Television 15 hours ago ‘That's a wrap': 7 years, 3 seasons and countless debates later, ‘Euphoria' is over However, the actor told E! News in 2023 that there was “zero possibility” she’d play Celia, adding, “I look forward to watching it and I’m sorry to disappoint everyone out there.” Meanwhile, author Reid previously shared that she drew inspiration for the book from the late Elizabeth Taylor, who was married eight times, as well as fellow Golden Age actors Ava Gardner and Rita Hayworth. Reid told PopSugar in 2017 that Gardner’s book “The Secret Conversations,” which was published after she died, sparked her creative process. After reading an excerpt, the author recalled thinking to herself, “‘How great if you could do an entire book that feels like the juiciest part of this Ava Gardner book?’” Reid continued, “So I started to think about this idea of a fictional memoir of a Hollywood star. Then I got really into the idea that you have a device of her telling her story to someone else and those two stories intersecting in interesting ways.” This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: When and How to Watch the ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Premiere As Olivia Rodrigo’s Babydoll Dresses Spark Backlash, Here’s the Outfit’s History Joe Jonas Recalls ‘Bad Audition’ for This Popular Apple TV Show: ‘I Crash and Burn’ ...read more read less