Another Emily Henry bestseller is getting the adaptation treatment.
The romance author is set to adapt her recent novel Funny Story into a feature film, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company will produce.
The bestselling novel, released in April, centers on protagonists Daphne and Miles, whose exes are dating. Daphne, a children’s librarian, is heartbroken after her fiancé Peter leaves her after realizing his true feelings for his childhood best friend Petra. But after she’s left with a now empty home, Daphne becomes roommates with Petra’s ex, Miles. The two eventually hatch a plan to get back at their exes by pretending to be together, but things take a turn when the pair just might unexpectedly fall in love.
Variety first reported the news of the movie deal.
Henry is writing the script for the adaptation, which is the first of her works that she is adapting by herself. Lyrical Media’s Alexander Black and Natalie Sellers and RPC’s Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett are attached to produce the film. Lyrical’s Jon Rosenberg and Henry are set to executive produce. RPC’s Emma Rappold will co-produce. A director is not yet attached.
News of Funny Story’s adaptation means all of Henry’s five books are in development for the screen. Her bestselling romance books People We Meet on Vacation, Book Lovers and Beach Read are currently being adapted into films. Meanwhile her novel Happy Place is in the works as a Netflix series produced by Jennifer Lopez, with Henry set to co-write the pilot.
Yulin Kuang is adapting People We Meet On Vacation for film and writing-directing the forthcoming Beach Read film for 20th Century Studios. When speaking to THR about the pressure of adapting the bestsellers, Kuang said, “I come from fandom… I can put myself in the shoes of somebody who has loved these books and care so much about seeing them done justice. Then at the same time, I have to put up this barrier, where I can no longer really look at fandom spaces in that way anymore. Because I think if I do, it’ll get too in my head. I do believe that the primary goal of adaptation is not just to please the book fans. It’s to bring new audiences to the source material.”
