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When it was first released on June 13, 2017, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo received praise from critics, but was not immediately embraced by readers. Enter the power of BookTok: In 2021, the novel started going viral on the platform and has now spent over 120 weeks straight on the New York Times Best Sellers list, pushing author Taylor Jenkins Reid’s catalog to over 24 million copies sold worldwide to date.
Naturally, the fervor spread to the screen. At first, that meant a Freeform series executive produced by The L Word’sIlene Chaiken and Jennifer Beals. But those plans evaporated after the network lost the development rights and on March 24, 2022, Netflix announced that it had secured the rights to adapt Reid’s hit into a feature film.
After more than four years of false starts and two departures—Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) was attached to direct in 2022 before Maggie Betts (The Burial) took the reins in February 2025 but ultimately left the project—Netflix’s upcoming movie adaptation just hit full throttle: Anna Kendrickis officially signed on to direct. Here’s your complete guide to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo‘s film adaptation—including where casting and a release date stand, why the book became a BookTok phenomenon, whether Evelyn Hugo is based on a real Hollywood star and more.
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What is ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ about?
Amazon
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows a glamorous—but intensely private—Hollywood icon who is ready to finally tell her story at the age of 79. But instead of selecting a critically acclaimed journalist, she decides to share tales from her incredible life with an unknown magazine reporter named Monique Grant.
Over the course of their conversations, Evelyn shares everything—from growing up in poverty to becoming one of Old Hollywood’s biggest stars. She also details various scandals from the 1950s through the 1980s, and the real story behind each of her seven marriages. But the most compelling love story of all doesn’t involve any of those husbands—her greatest love was fellow actress Celia St. James. Unfortunately, they were forced to hide it during a far less accepting time. And as we start to learn more about Evelyn, we also try to understand why she chose Monique to tell her story.
Related: ‘We’re Going on the Road With Some Bad Girls’: Taylor Jenkins Reid Teases Her New Book
Is Evelyn based on a real person?
Photo by Jason Bollenbacher/Getty Images for SXSW
No, and when The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was first released in 2017, Taylor Jenkins Reid confirmed it herself on Goodreads.com. She responded to a fan question, writing, “There was no *one* Hollywood actress that Evelyn Hugo is based on.”
The character is an amalgamation of various stars—including Liz Taylor, Rita Hayworth and Brigitte Bardot. “I will say, though, that the premise for the book came to me when I was reading Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations by Ava Gardner and Peter Evans,” she added. “I was very drawn to the idea of a classic film star spilling secrets, just like Ava did. So I made up a star of my own and went for it.”
Who is in the cast of ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ movie?
While there are some convincing-looking posts circulating on social media, no casting news has been shared. This page will be updated regularly—including with any official casting announcements.
In the meantime, it’s fun to think about which actors die-hard fans would love to see in the Netflix film adaptation. Some of the most popular fan castings include Ana de Armas or Eiza González as Evelyn, Jessica Chastain as Celia (with Sadie Sink as her younger self), Nathalie Emmanuel as Monique, and Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey as Harry Cameron. As for the older version of Evelyn? There’s a huge push of support for Rita Moreno!
In 2023, social media lit up after a video showed Chastain declining to sign a copy of the novel. She took to X to address the chatter:
I’ve been asked multiple times by fans, to sign books that I’m not attached to contractually. Because it feels wrong, and like Im taking credit for someone else’s work, I’ll say I cant sign because I’m not doing it. That doesn’t mean I’ve read a bad script.
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) April 19, 2023
In a story that’s since become widely cited across the Internet, E! News reported in a Dec. 28, 2023 story that Chastain said there’s “zero possibility” she’d join the cast.
Meanwhile, De Armas—who’s Cuban like Evelyn and already played a 1950s icon in Blonde—told Entertainment Tonight she’d “love” the part, while González called it an “honor” she’d jump at, revealing even Natalie Portman thinks she’s perfect for the role.
Who is directing ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ movie?
On June 1, 2026,Deadline broke the news that Anna Kendrick would be directing the highly anticipated film. While many know her from starring in the Pitch Perfect and Twilight franchises, the Oscar-nominated actress made her directorial debut in Woman of the Hour. She also starred in the Netflix film, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2023.
Woman of the Hour was certainly darker fare—a thriller based on real-life serial killer Rodney Alcala, who appeared as a bachelor on The Dating Game in the 1970s amidst his killing spree. After the release of the film, she told Variety’sAngelique Jackson, “I’ve started to respond to scripts that have a lot more energy and maybe female aggression.”
Between that, and her own experience as a movie star, it looks like she’s the perfect fit to direct The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Who’s writing the screenplay for ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’?
If you loved Little Fires Everywhere, you’re in luck! Series developer and showrunner Liz Tigelaar signed on as the screenwriter back in 2022, with Mr. & Mrs. Smith writer, creator and EP Francesca Sloane working on revisions. Reid is also an executive producer on the film.
What is the release date for ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ movie?
Unfortunately, just like the casting, there’s no release date yet—and no production schedule either. The film remains in active development with the script still in revisions. If we had to make an educated guess based on previous projects, we’re thinking the earliest the movie could premiere is sometime in 2027.
What other books has Taylor Jenkins Reid written?
Beyond The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Reid has written eight additional novels. In chronological order, they are:
- Forever, Interrupted (2013)
- After I Do (2014)
- Maybe in Another Life (2015)
- One True Loves (2016)
- Daisy Jones & the Six (2019)
- Malibu Rising (2021)
- Carrie Soto Is Back (2022)
- Atmosphere (2025)
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