Actress and filmmaker Anna Kendrick is set to bring another acclaimed story to the screen as she takes on directing duties for “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Netflix Tudum confirmed the news on June 2 through an official statement, signaling a new chapter for the highly anticipated adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Anna’s appointment comes after filmmakers Maggie Betts and Leslye Headland, who were previously attached to the project, departed for undisclosed reasons.
Known for her work both in front of and behind the camera, Anna will helm the adaptation from a script by Liz Tigelaar, with current revisions by Francesca Sloane. The project also brings together a roster of producers, including Liza Chasin for 3dot Productions, Brad Mendelsohn for Circle Management + Productions, and David Hinojosa. Jenkins herself will serve as executive producer for the film.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows a young journalist who finally lands an exclusive interview with Evelyn Hugo, an aging Hollywood icon long surrounded by mystery. Through the interview, Evelyn recounts the stories behind her seven marriages while opening up about Hollywood scandals, betrayals, and heartbreak. As her memories unfold, long-buried truths about her life and the lives intertwined with hers begin to surface.
While excitement continues to build around the adaptation, Netflix has yet to announce the film’s cast and release date as of writing.
The project adds another directing credit to Anna’s evolving filmography. She made her directorial debut in 2023 with the Netflix true-crime thriller Woman of the Hour, earning praise for her work behind the camera.
Speaking with Deadline in an interview in 2024, Anna shared why she decided to pursue being a director after being an actress for more than two decades.
“I think it was a thought that I was actively shoving down, and I guess it would no longer be silent. Looking back, it’s very obviously a protective measure on my part to ignore that desire, because it’s vulnerable to want something and know that you might not get it or that you might get it and fail.”
Despite initial second thoughts about her capabilities, Anna took the opportunity to expand her horizons and challenge her boundaries.
“I think that I’ve built up a platform of confidence in my work and to kind of throw myself back to ground zero where this would be a first-time experience felt very scary. So I was definitely fighting the impulse to stay comfortable. But I’m very glad I fought through that, I guess,” she added.
Anna remains widely recognized for portraying Beca Mitchell in the hit Pitch Perfect movie franchise.