The Housemaid author, Freida McFadden, and Studiocanal revealed their next major collaboration just as the bestselling writer prepares to unleash another thriller on readers. The author and studio announced plans to bring her upcoming revenge-fueled novel to the big screen before it even hits shelves later this month.
A movie based on Freida McFadden’s upcoming book in works at StudioCanal
Studiocanal has secured the rights to The Divorce, the forthcoming thriller novel from bestselling author Freida McFadden, after winning a competitive book option, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline. Studiocanal will fully finance the feature adaptation and co-produce it with Working Title. Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin oversee development and production for the studio.
The Divorce will be published on May 26 by Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks. At its core, the novel follows Naomi, who becomes obsessed with the younger woman her husband leaves her for. As a result, her fixation leads her down a dark path culminating in the revelation of shocking secrets.
The project reunites McFadden with Studiocanal following their international release of The Housemaid. Director Paul Feig’s adaptation of her breakout thriller starred Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, and the film grossed over $400 million worldwide. A sequel based on The Housemaid’s Secret now targets a 2027 release.
Meanwhile, McFadden expressed her excitement about the new venture. “I’m delighted to be working with the teams at Studiocanal and Working Title to bring The Divorce to the big screen,” she said. “From the start, they have come forward with an unparalleled enthusiasm and a strong vision for how to get this project off the ground. I can’t wait to see what unfolds!” Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh, in turn, called the novel “ambitious, aspirational and irresistibly addictive storytelling at its best.”
Notably, Studiocanal Stories, the studio’s label dedicated to literary adaptations, spearheaded the book option. Beyond this deal, McFadden, a physician turned author who recently revealed her real name as Sara Cohen, also has adaptations in development at Apple and Sony. Angela Cheng Caplan of Cheng Caplan Company, Christina Hogrebe of Jane Rotrosen Agency, and Allison Binder of Goodman Genow represent McFadden.
