Leslye Headland Steps Down from Netflix’s ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ Adaptation

In a surprising move, ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ film adaptation has seen a change behind the scenes as director Leslye Headland is no longer attached to the project.

Headland, known for her work on ‘Russian Doll,’ and ‘The Acolyte’ made the announcement in a candid statement, expressing her continued admiration for the book and the people involved in the adaptation.

Headland shared her thoughts, saying, “I am no longer working on that project. I remain a huge, huge fan of the book and of the people working on it. It’s one of those things where you know it’s going to be a huge success.” While she acknowledged that the decision to step away was personal, she emphasized that she believed the film would thrive without her involvement. “I thought, ‘Damn it. It’s not going to work out with me involved in it, but it is going to be wildly successful,’” she explained.

‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ is a bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which tells the compelling story of an aging Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo, and her seven marriages over the course of her glamorous and tumultuous life. With its deeply emotional themes of love, identity, and fame, the book has garnered a massive following since its release.

For Headland, the decision to step away seems rooted in a sense of respect for the story. “It is the type of book that if I’d read it in my twenties, I would have had a completely different life,” she said. “It’s so beautifully done.” Headland’s reverence for the source material makes it clear that despite her exit from the project, she continues to champion its success.

The film adaptation, which has been eagerly anticipated by fans of the novel, is still on track for production under new leadership. The involvement of Netflix further heightens expectations for a faithful and engaging retelling of the beloved story. While details about the reasons behind Headland’s departure remain unclear, her statement reflects both gratitude for the opportunity and confidence in the future of the film.

In 2019, Freeform and Fox 21 Television Studios bought the rights to develop ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ into a TV show, with Jennifer Beals and Ilene Chaiken producing. The book’s author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, was also set to work as a screenwriter. However, by June 2021, Reid revealed that the rights were no longer with Freeform, and the show would be made on a different platform. She expressed that she was happy with the new direction.

In March 2022, Netflix announced it would turn the novel into a film, with Liz Tigelaar writing the screenplay and Margaret Chernin serving as an executive producer.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!