7 Shocking Updates On The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo Movie: New Director, 'Done' Script, And Major Casting Rumors
The long-awaited Netflix film adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, is finally gaining serious momentum in late 2025. After months of speculation and a major shake-up behind the scenes, the project has secured a new creative vision and confirmed a finished script, pushing the highly anticipated movie closer to a production start that fans have been desperate for since the book’s 2021 resurgence on TikTok. This is everything you need to know about the current status of the film, from the new director to the shocking truth about the cast.
The journey from book-to-screen has been a dramatic Hollywood saga in itself, mirroring the life of the fictional Old Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo. As of today, December 22, 2025, the production team is set, the screenplay is complete, and the final hurdle is the announcement of the star who will bring the Cuban-American legend to life.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Movie: Production Status and Creative Team Profile
The Netflix adaptation is one of the most highly-anticipated book-to-screen projects in recent memory, driven by the novel’s massive popularity, particularly among the BookTok community. While an official release date remains unconfirmed, the latest updates point to a significant step forward in the production timeline.
- Studio/Distributor: Netflix
- Source Material: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017) by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Initial Announcement: March 2022
- Current Status (Late 2025): Pre-Production/Casting
- Screenwriter: Liz Tigelaar (Showrunner of Little Fires Everywhere)
- Script Status: Confirmed "Done" by Liz Tigelaar
- New Director: Maggie Betts (Director of Novitiate, The Burial)
- Former Director: Leslye Headland (Creator of The Acolyte, co-creator of Russian Doll) (Departed the project)
- Producers: Liza Chasin for 3Dot Productions, Brad Mendelsohn for Circle of Confusion
- Potential Filming Start: Reportedly targeting a June 2, 2025 start date in Los Angeles (Highly tentative)
Major Creative Shake-Up: Maggie Betts Replaces Leslye Headland
The biggest news impacting the film’s status in late 2025 is the departure of its previously attached director, Leslye Headland. Headland, known for her sharp, genre-bending work on *Russian Doll* and the Star Wars series *The Acolyte*, was originally set to helm the project.
Her departure, which she confirmed in an interview, left the project temporarily without a director, creating a new wave of uncertainty for fans. This kind of directorial change is common in Hollywood, but for a high-profile adaptation, it signaled a potential delay.
Maggie Betts Steps Into the Director's Chair
Netflix quickly moved to stabilize the production by announcing Maggie Betts as the new director. Betts is an acclaimed filmmaker whose work on films like *Novitiate* (2017) and *The Burial* (2023) demonstrates a strong hand in character-driven narratives and period settings, which are essential for capturing Evelyn Hugo’s story.
Betts’ involvement is a sign that the film is back on track. Her ability to handle complex, emotional material, particularly stories involving powerful women and moral ambiguity, makes her a compelling choice to explore Evelyn’s journey from a young Cuban immigrant, "Celeste," to the legendary Hollywood star, Evelyn Hugo.
There are also reports suggesting that Betts may co-write the final script alongside Liz Tigelaar, further cementing her creative control over the adaptation.
The 'Done' Script and What It Means for Filming
Another monumental update that has fueled fan excitement is the confirmation from screenwriter Liz Tigelaar that the script is "done." Tigelaar, who successfully adapted Celeste Ng’s complex novel *Little Fires Everywhere* into a hit series, has the experience necessary to condense Evelyn Hugo’s decades-spanning biography into a two-hour feature film.
The completion of the screenplay is the most significant indicator that the film is moving from the development phase into active pre-production. With a finished script and a director attached, the next and most crucial step is the casting process.
The Most Intense Casting Rumors: Who Will Play Evelyn Hugo?
The casting of Evelyn Hugo—at her three different ages (young, middle-aged, and elderly)—Monique Grant, and Celia St. James remains the most hotly debated topic. The actress chosen to play Evelyn must embody the magnetic presence, stunning beauty, and complex emotionality of the character.
As of late 2025, no official casting has been announced, but the rumor mill is churning with a few key names and one major exclusion.
The Fan-Favorite Who is Officially Out
For years, a large segment of the fanbase clamored for Jessica Chastain to play the middle-aged Evelyn Hugo. However, the actress has confirmed that she is no longer in contention for the role, stating that the project is moving in a different direction.
The Frontrunners and Those Who Have Expressed Interest
The search for the perfect Evelyn, a Cuban-American woman who changes her name from Evelyn Herrera to Evelyn Hugo, is central to the film's authenticity. The current buzz focuses on a few high-profile actresses:
- Eiza González: The Mexican actress has been a major topic of discussion, with fans widely supporting her for the role. González herself addressed the rumors, calling it a "huge honor" to be considered for the adaptation. Her interest and the fan momentum make her a strong contender for one of the ages of Evelyn.
- Ana de Armas: The Cuban actress, known for her Oscar-nominated portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in *Blonde*, has also expressed her enthusiasm for the project. She told Entertainment Tonight that she "would love to" take on the role, adding another high-caliber name to the list of possibilities.
- Selena Gomez: While perhaps a long shot, the pop star and actress has been the subject of persistent fan-casting rumors, particularly for the role of Monique Grant, the journalist who interviews Evelyn.
The casting process is notoriously slow, especially for a project that requires multiple actresses to play the same character at different life stages, as well as finding the perfect Celia St. James, Evelyn's true love, and the journalist Monique Grant.
The Seven Husbands: The Entities of Evelyn’s Life
The core of the novel, and the film, revolves around the seven men Evelyn married, each serving a specific purpose in her career and life. These characters are crucial entities that will require careful casting to capture the full scope of Evelyn’s ambition and heartbreak.
The seven husbands (and the other key figures) are:
- Ernie Diaz (First Husband, a bartender)
- Don Adler (Second Husband, a movie star)
- Mick Riva (Third Husband, a singer)
- Rex North (Fourth Husband, a co-star)
- Harry Cameron (Fifth Husband, a director, and Celia St. James’s husband)
- Max Girard (Sixth Husband, a director)
- Robert Jamison (Seventh Husband, a successful executive)
- Celia St. James (The True Love, a fellow actress)
- Monique Grant (The Journalist)
- Connor Cameron (Harry and Celia's daughter)
The production must find actors who can convincingly portray the Old Hollywood glamour and the complex relationships that defined Evelyn’s life. With the script "done" and Maggie Betts at the helm, the next major announcement is expected to be the cast, which will finally give fans a clearer picture of the film’s potential release timeline.
The film’s development has been a testament to the novel’s enduring power. The recent updates—the new director, the finished script, and the highly anticipated casting decisions—suggest that the long wait for the Netflix adaptation of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo may soon be over, delivering the scandalous, glamorous, and heartbreaking story to the screen.
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