Anna Kendrick Named Director of Evelyn Hugo Film
Netflix announced in June 2026 that Anna Kendrick will direct the adaptation of the Taylor Jenkins Reid novel.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Celebrities
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In June 2026, Netflix officially named Anna Kendrick as the director for its film adaptation of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The project features a script originally penned by Liz Tigelaar, with current revisions being performed by Francesca Sloane.
Why it matters
The adaptation brings a highly anticipated novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid to the screen under the creative direction of an established performer. By leveraging Netflix as the platform, the project aims to reach a global audience with its high-profile production team.
As a performer, Kendrick saw her song Cups achieve over 2.5 million digital downloads and peak at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track has also garnered 600 million combined YouTube views.
The players
Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick is an actress and director who gained significant musical recognition for her performance of the song Cups in the 2012 film Pitch Perfect.
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and serves as an executive producer for the Netflix film adaptation.
Liz Tigelaar
Liz Tigelaar is a screenwriter who authored the initial script for the film adaptation of the Taylor Jenkins Reid novel.
Francesca Sloane
Francesca Sloane is a writer tasked with performing revisions on the existing screenplay for the project.
The details
The film project adapts the popular novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, with the author serving as an executive producer. While Liz Tigelaar drafted the initial screenplay, Francesca Sloane is currently working on further revisions for the production.
Timeline
Pitch Perfect was released in theaters in 2012.
Netflix announced Anna Kendrick as the director in June 2026.
Anna Kendrick attended the Zurich Film Festival in September 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project follows the established pattern of major streaming platforms acquiring popular literary IP to anchor their original content slates. The move reflects the broader industry strategy of leveraging known brands and established talent to compete during the ongoing streaming wars.
The film will be distributed exclusively through the Netflix streaming platform, allowing subscribers worldwide to access the content upon release. Viewers should anticipate future announcements regarding the streaming launch date and potential theatrical windows.
The takeaway
The move highlights a growing trend of actors transitioning into directorial roles for major studio adaptations. Readers interested in the project can look forward to future updates as the script revisions progress toward final production stages.
Further reading
Find more updates on industry talent in the Celebrities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Variety.
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