Those of us who love to read the book before seeing the movie have no shortage of great novels to add to our TBR while we wait for the upcoming movie or TV adaptation. For those who haven't read Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, there's still time to get to it as we wait for more news about the planned movie in the works at Netflix. If you loved Amazon's adaptation of Daisy Jones and the Six, which was also based on a book from Taylor Jenkins Reid, you'll definitely want to check out Taylor Jenkins Reid's other books, and keep tabs on what we know about the movie adaptation for Evelyn Hugo..
There are no major spoilers included in this guide, but if you haven't read the book yet, you may want to jump straight to the "About The Book" section to get the basic details and my thoughts on the novel.
What Is the Release Date For The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo doesn’t have a release date yet.
Netflix announced that they were adapting the popular book in March 2022, and details about it were few and far between up until late June in 2023 when Netflix announced a director -- more on that in a bit. Given how little we know about the movie so far as of September 2024, it seems very unlikely that we'll see the film pop up on the 2024 movie schedule, but here's hoping we'll get a release date for the 2025 movie schedule.
About The Book
The book on which this adaptation is based was published in 2017 and gained even more popularity in the years that followed, thanks to readers on social media platforms like TikTok.
The Plot
The story follows a reporter named Monique Grant, who’s surprised to find herself invited to interview Evelyn Hugo, an iconic movie star from the Old Hollywood era of film, who’s become rather reclusive in recent years. That Evelyn is willing to share her story at all is a big deal, but why she’s chosen Monique to interview her is one of the mysteries left to be solved. Through her conversations with Monique, she reveals the true stories behind each of her marriages, as well as her career over the years.
The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo's Genre
It’s hard to assign a specific genre to the story, as it’s a bit of a historical fiction drama, there’s plenty of romance, and there’s some mystery to be solved. If you’re looking for a real page-turner, this may be the right read for you. That’s especially true if you’re a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other works, which include Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto is Back.
Full disclosure, I felt like crying after I read Evelyn Hugo, and not for any specific reason -- happy or sad. I just felt emotionally full in all the right ways. The same thing happened after I finished Daisy Jones and the Six, so I'm starting to think that's just the author's magic at work.
If this sounds like your kind of read, you can pick up a copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo on Amazon. (Or at your preferred bookstore, if they carry it!)
The Deluxe Edition
And if you're looking to add to your collection of books, you'll want to keep an eye out for the Deluxe Edition of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which -- based on the photo -- looks like it has some gorgeous sprayed edges, and is expected to be released in October 2024 -- Here it is at Barnes & Noble, Target, and Amazon.
Who's In The Cast Of The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo?
There are no confirmed cast members announced for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo movie adaptation yet. If you’ve been paying attention to the updates on the project, you may be aware that many fans of the book want to see Jessica Chastain play the role of Celia St. James in the film, but it sounds like that's not happening.
To recap the situation, which as you'll see, has been ongoing for quite some time, in January 2022, when asked about fans’ interest in her playing the role during an interview on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Chastain said she was aware there was an “online thing about it” and added, “Sure, send me a script.”
And then The Eyes of Tammy Faye star did make headlines in April 2023 when a video posted on TikTok — via The Wrap — made the rounds of her politely refusing to sign a copy of the book for a fan, saying she can’t sign it, “just because I’m not doing it.” Some fans seemed to interpret this as her confirming she wasn’t going to be in the adaptation. However, around the time that these rumors were circulating, Chastain tweeted the following:
I know how excited many you are about adaptations. Please dont read too much into a video. There is no news about anything. Except that I’m onstage until June 10th. Hope to see you 🤍 #ADollsHouseApril 19, 2023
In December 2023, speculation was put to rest pretty firmly when Chastain told E! News that there was "zero possibility" that she'll star in the Evelyn Hugo movie.
So we're left to continue speculating over who might play the role of Celia St. James. And of course, the same can be said for who might play Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, writer Monique Grant, and all of those husbands.
The Screenplay Is Being Adapted By Liz Tigelaar
Netflix’s March 2022 announcement also included confirmation that the movie’s screenplay is set to be written by Liz Tigelaar, who’s no stranger to adapting a popular novel for the screen. Among her numerous writing credits, Tigelaar was the showrunner for Hulu’s adaptation of Celeste Ng’s novel, Little Fires Everywhere, which stars Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon. Her most recent executive producing credit is for the Hulu miniseries Under the Bridge (the cast of which just so happens to include one Daisy Jones actress: Riley Keough).
Leslye Headland Will Direct The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo
In late June 2023, Netflix announced that they had a director signed on for the film. Per the streamer, Russian Doll co-creator Leslye Headland is set to helm the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo adaptation, based on Tigelaar's script. In addition to her work on Russian Doll, Headland's credits include writing and directing the film Sleeping With Other People, as well as several TV show credits for writing, directing and/or producing. And if you're a Star Wars fan and keeping an eye on what's new at Disney+, you may know that Headland is the creator and showrunner of the recently released series, The Acolyte.
While we wait for more news about this adaptation, you can pick up a copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo book at Amazon.
