Florence Pugh Joins Matt Haig’s ‘The Midnight Library’ as Star and Producer, Directed by Garth Davis, with Studiocanal Debuting at Cannes
Florence Pugh to Star in ‘The Midnight Library’ Directed by Garth Davis
Oscar nominee Florence Pugh, known for her role in the Dune franchise, will star in and produce the fantasy drama The Midnight Library, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Garth Davis, best known for Lion.
According to the project’s logline, Pugh will portray Nora Seed, who discovers a mystical library suspended between life and death, offering her the opportunity to explore the countless lives she could have lived.
The film, supported by Studiocanal and Blueprint Pictures, is set to be launched at the Cannes market. The project is based on Matt Haig’s bestselling novel, adapted for the screen by Olivier Award winner Laura Wade and Tony nominee Nick Payne.
Haig will take on the role of executive producer for the film, which has been a commercial success since its release by Canongate in 2020, selling 15 million copies and being translated into 56 languages.
Pre-production is anticipated to begin this fall, with filming expected to start in early 2027. Studiocanal plans to release the film theatrically across its territories, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Benelux, Australia, and New Zealand, marking it as the studio’s largest-budget project in recent years.
Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin from Blueprint Pictures will produce alongside Anita Overland and Pugh. Executive producers include Blueprint’s Ben Knight and Diarmuid McKeown, as well as Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, and Dan MacRae for Studiocanal.
Davis expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with Pugh, stating, “Her warmth and talent are magical, and together I know we’ll do something special working with Matt’s iconic novel. This is a story that moves us both — a celebration of life in all its possibility and complexity."
Haig also shared his excitement, saying, “I am so happy that Nora’s story is in such great hands, and that her myriad possibilities will be vividly reawakened by the absolute perfect team.”
Anna Marsh, CEO of Studiocanal and Chief Content Officer of Canal+ Group, remarked on the collaboration, emphasizing the emotional depth of the film. “Garth’s film is a love letter to life, a tantalizingly powerful take on a script that gives you the immediacy and high stakes of time running out with unparalleled emotion,” she stated.
Pugh is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and attorney JSSK. Davis’s representation includes UTA, Anonymous Content, and Jackoway Tyerman, while Haig is with Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh. Wade is represented by Knight Hall Agency and Payne by Curtis Brown and UTA.
