AceShowbiz - Freida McFadden, the author behind the bestselling novel The Housemaid, is set to have her upcoming book The Divorce adapted into a feature film by Studiocanal. The company announced that it has secured the rights to the thriller and is fully financing the movie, which will be co-produced alongside Working Title.

The Divorce is a gripping novel focused on themes of vengeance and survival. It is scheduled for release on May 26 through Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks. Studiocanal’s label Studiocanal Stories, which specializes in literary adaptations, led the effort to secure the book option after a competitive bidding process.

Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin are overseeing the project on behalf of Studiocanal. This adaptation marks a significant new venture for Studiocanal Stories as they continue to bring distinctive literary voices to the screen.

Last year, Studiocanal partnered with Lionsgate to release the film adaptation of The Housemaid, based on McFadden’s 2022 novel. Directed by Paul Feig and starring Sydney Sweeney alongside Amanda Seyfried, the movie surpassed $400 million globally at the box office. A sequel titled The Housemaid’s Secret, continuing the story from McFadden’s follow-up book, is scheduled for release in 2027.

Expressing her excitement, McFadden stated, "I'm delighted to be working with the teams at Studiocanal and Working Title to bring The Divorce to the big screen. 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!"

Anna Marsh, CEO of Studiocanal, also praised the novel and the collaboration, saying, "We are thrilled to be working with Freida McFadden on our adaptation of The Divorce. From the very first page, it was utterly compelling. Freida has a rare ability to draw readers—and viewers—into an unsettling sense of comfort, before brilliantly pulling the rug from under them. The Divorce is ambitious, aspirational and irresistibly addictive storytelling at its best, and marks an exciting new chapter for Studiocanal Stories."

Marsh further congratulated the Studiocanal team on securing this landmark deal, emphasizing its importance in nurturing unique literary voices for cinematic adaptation.

Besides The Housemaid and The Divorce, McFadden’s other published works include Dear Debbie and The Boyfriend. She is represented by Christina Hogrebe of Jane Rotrosen Agency, Angela Cheng Caplan of Cheng Caplan Company, and Allison Binder of Goodman Genow.

With The Divorce poised to join the ranks of successful literary adaptations, audiences can anticipate another intense psychological thriller brought to life from one of today’s compelling authors.