After the novel became a smashing bestseller, there were a lot of people waiting for the Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine movie adaptation. From author Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine tells the story of Eleanor, a Scottish woman in her late 20s who is highly intelligent but socially awkward. Along with avoiding interacting with her colleagues, Eleanor spends her weekends in her apartment drinking heavily by herself. However, as she begins to confront some of the trauma of her past, the protagonist also learns to open up to those around her.
Released in 2017, the novel received high acclaim from critics and won the Costa Debut Novel Award. It also became a hit with the public, as over 2.5 million copies have been sold (via Harper Collins). Not surprisingly, it didn’t take too long before that success caught the attention of Hollywood. The movie adaptation of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has become a highly anticipated project, and while there will still be a long wait before fans see the film, there are some exciting Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine movie updates.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Latest News
The Movie’s Writer And Director Have Been Announced
Despite the popularity of the novel, the movie adaptation of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has moved along at a somewhat slow pace. There hasn’t been much news on the project, as the latest came in 2022 with the announcement that the movie had found its director and writer. Deadline reported that Harry Bradbeer would helm Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, while the script would be written by Georgia Pritchett.
Bradbeer earned an Emmy for Outstanding Director in a Comedy Series for his work on Phoebe Waller-Bridges’ Fleabag and also helmed episodes of Killing Eve season 1, another collaboration with Waller-Bridge, who was the show’s head writer at the time. Bradbeer has also started working more regularly in film, directing the first two Enola Holmes movies starring Millie Bobby Brown. Meanwhile, Pritchett has written for acclaimed shows like Veep and Succession while also creating the limited series The Shrink Next Door starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Is Confirmed
Reese Witherspoon Will Produce The Movie
The movie adaptation of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has been confirmed. Following the success of the novel, the film rights were quickly bought by Reese Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, in 2017 (via Deadline). Witherspoon will be producing alongside her partner at Hello Sunshine, Lauren Neustadter. In 2018, it was announced that MGM would be involved in the production. While no release date has been announced, the news that Harry Bradbeer was hired as director and Georgia Pritchett was hired as writer confirms the project is gradually moving forward.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Cast
No Actors Are Attached To The Movie Yet
The Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine cast is not yet set as no actors are attached to the project. The titular role is sure to be a sought-after one for many actors as they will be looking for a woman in her late 20s or early 30s to take on the complex protagonist. It is also likely the production will be looking for a Scottish actor to stay true to the character. Eleanor is complex and fascinating; she can be funny and kind but also has a lot of flaws and heartache that are addressed throughout the story.
While Eleanor is obviously the most important role to be cast, the story features a lot of other key characters. Raymond Gibbons is one of Eleanor’s coworkers who she developed a gradual connection with and he becomes a support system for her as she works through some of her trauma. Sammy Thom is also a great part of the story as an elderly man whom Eleanor helps one day and ends up becoming a part of her life.
Some smaller but pivotal roles in the movie that will need to be cast also include Johnnie Lomond, the lead singer in a local band who Eleanor becomes convinced is her soulmate. Also, Eleanor’s mother plays a small but crucial role. They have a very intense and troubled relationship, which leads to one of the bigger reveals in the story. While no casting has been announced, it will be exciting to see how these roles fill out.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Story Details
The Story Presents Some Challenges For A Movie Adaptation
Given the popularity of the novel, the story of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is well-known to many fans already. The novel follows the titular character, a young woman in her late 20s living in Glasgow, Scotland. Eleanor is an intelligent young woman but socially awkward, not connecting with any of her colleagues and not showing any real interest in doing so. She also spends the weekends isolated from the world and drinking heavily. As more about her traumatic past is revealed, Eleanor is forced to confront the memories she has long suppressed.
The story is a moving tale of loneliness, trauma, and the healing nature of friendship. Though there are plenty of dark themes in the story, the book is written with a comedic tone that doesn’t undercut the emotional aspect of Eleanor’s journey. However, the movie will also have some challenges in adapting the story. A lot of what makes Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine such an interesting book is that it is told from Eleanor’s perspective, which is skewed by a lack of self-awareness.
While the movie could incorporate an element of narration, it likely won’t have the same effect as it did in the book which is where a lot of the humor comes from. There are also elements about Eleanor that are revealed gradually, such as her visible scars from her troubled past which the movie will have to address much earlier in the story. As with all movies based on books, there will be some changes made to the story, but with its talented creative lineup Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is shaping up to be a fantastic adaptation.