From Bestseller to Big Screen
Matt Haig’s feel-good-but-thoughty novel about second chances is getting a movie makeover. The story follows Nora, a 35-year-old convinced she’s blown every chance at happiness, who finds herself in a strange library that lets her peek at alternate versions of her life.
It’s not a typical fantasy romp — the book mixes melancholy, what-if curiosity, and gentle humor while asking what actually makes life worth living.
Florence Pugh: The Perfect Wildcard
Enter Florence Pugh. She’s no stranger to big franchises and meaty parts — from a sharp-edged MCU role to turns in prestige dramas — so casting her feels like a wink that this won’t be a small, quiet indie.
Pugh’s recent credits include a Marvel character, a dramatic role in a major historical film, and a part in the Dune universe. She’s also linked back to the writers involved, so there’s already creative chemistry on the table.
The Creative Team Behind the Camera
Garth Davis, known for visually lush and emotionally driven films, will direct. The screenplay comes from Laura Wade and Nick Payne, the latter of whom has written material that previously paired him with Pugh.
The filmmakers say they want to preserve the book’s warm, life-affirming spirit — basically a cinematic celebration of choices, regrets, and those blink-and-you-miss-it possibilities that shape us.
Big Studio Energy and a Real Timeline
StudioCanal is producing, and they’ve reportedly put serious money behind this one — the biggest single budget they’ve committed to in years, according to insiders.
Pre-production is slated to begin this fall with cameras expected to roll in early 2027. Don’t hold your breath for a 2027 premiere: the earliest likely release window is 2028.
What the Movie Might Feel Like
Think bittersweet comedy with a heart — scenes that tug at your feelings but don’t drown you in gloom. The story deals with dark moments, including a desperate choice that sends Nora to the library, but the promise is that the film will treat those beats thoughtfully and with some levity.
Expect some cheeky, PG-13-style awkwardness when life’s alternate paths are revealed, rather than anything sensational — this is about meaning, not shock value.
Why Fans Should Care
If you loved the book’s mix of hope and rue, or you’re a fan of Pugh’s unpredictable career picks, this project checks both boxes. It could be the rare adaptation that keeps the soul of the novel while giving it a glossy, crowd-friendly sheen.
Bottom line: a big name, a confident director, and serious studio backing make this one to watch — even if it’s a couple of years away from hitting theaters.