Studiocanal Acquires Film Rights to Freida McFadden’s Thriller ‘The Divorce’ for Big-Screen Adaptation

Studiocanal has secured the film rights to ‘The Divorce’, the next psychological thriller novel from bestselling author Freida McFadden, following a competitive bidding war.

The film adaptation is currently in early development, with Studiocanal fully financing the project and Working Title serving as co-producer. Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin will oversee the development and production for Studiocanal.

“I’m delighted to be working with the teams at Studiocanal and Working Title to bring ‘The Divorce’ to the big screen,” McFadden said in a statement. “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!”

The Divorce: Plot and Publication Details

Scheduled for release on May 26 by Sourcebooks imprint Poisoned Pen Press, ‘The Divorce’ is a gripping tale of obsession and vengeance. The story follows Naomi, a woman whose seemingly perfect marriage collapses when her husband divorces her, drains their shared finances, and pursues a younger woman.

Consumed by obsession over her ex-husband’s new partner, Naomi uncovers shocking secrets that spiral into a deadly pursuit to reclaim her former life.

McFadden’s Rising Hollywood Influence

McFadden has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after authors, following the massive success of ‘The Housemaid’, which became a global box office phenomenon. Directed by Paul Feig and starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney, the film grossed nearly $400 million worldwide, making it Lionsgate’s highest-grossing release in over a year.

Studiocanal will release ‘The Divorce’ theatrically across its territory footprint, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Benelux, Australia, and New Zealand. The film will be distributed globally under the Studiocanal Stories label, which specializes in literature adaptations.

“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,” said Anna Marsh, CEO of Studiocanal and Chief Content Officer of CANAL+ Group.

“‘The Divorce’ is ambitious, aspirational, and irresistibly addictive storytelling at its best, and marks an exciting new chapter for Studiocanal Stories. I would like to congratulate the Studiocanal team on this landmark deal, which powerfully demonstrates our commitment to nurturing distinctive literary voices for the screen,” Marsh added.

Additional Adaptation Projects

In addition to ‘The Divorce’, McFadden recently secured a deal with Apple to adapt her 2024 thriller ‘The Teacher’, with Brian Kavanaugh-Jones attached as producer. She is represented by Christina Hogrebe of Jane Rotrosen Agency, Angela Cheng Caplan of Cheng Caplan Company, and Allison Binder of Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson + Christopher.