Freeform is developing a drama based on Taylor Jenkins Reid's critically acclaimed novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo per The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
The project hails from Fox 21, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Ilene Chaiken (The L Word, Empire, The Handmaid's Tale) and Jennifer Beals (The L Word, Swamp Thing, Taken). This is the first project from Fox 21, the now Disney-owned studio that has landed at Freeform. Chaiken, Beals and Reid will executive produce the project. Reid's other novel Daisy Jones & The Six is being adapted into a limited series at Amazon.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo revolves around Monique, a struggling twenty-something journalist who is handpicked by Evelyn Hugo, an iconic starlet from the Golden Age of Hollywood, to write her final tell-all book. In success, the drama will be told during dual time periods and follow both women at the precipice of adulthood in their early 20s as they navigate career challenges, racial identity and sexuality and find love. Evelyn's influence pushes Monique to take risks and discover her true self — even as Evelyn evades the long-standing secret that irrevocably binds them together.
Part of the synopsis of the novel.
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life.
When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Source:
Hiiiiii! I'm writing a pilot of EVELYN HUGO for @freeform with my dream producers @thejenniferbeals and @ilenechaiken. ***note: There are still a lot of stages of development before you see Evelyn on your tv screen but this is a big one!*** https://t.co/EVFB8R840H pic.twitter.com/bAOY6GdAng
— Taylor Jenkins Reid (@tjenkinsreid) September 19, 2019
