Months after Jennifer Lopez announced she’s adapting Happy Place for Netflix, it’s been revealed that another Emily Henry book is headed to the screen. Henry’s rom-com Funny Story, which was just published in April, will be made into a feature film, and the author is penning the screenplay herself. The film will be produced by Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company. While details such as release date, cast, and director have not been announced yet, there is much excitement surrounding this upcoming adaptation.
Funny Story follows Daphne, a children’s librarian whose engagement is called off months before her wedding when her fiancé, Peter, realizes he’s in love with his childhood friend, Petra. Stuck in Peter’s hometown, Daphne decides to move in with Petra’s ex, Miles, and they devise a plan to get back at their former lovers. Despite the rom-com genre, the novel explores serious themes and lessons about love, according to the author. Emily Henry mentioned in an interview that “Love is not just a silly story. It might be a funny story, but it’s not silly and superfluous. It’s the reason.”
In addition to Funny Story, several other Emily Henry adaptations are in the works. Beach Read is being adapted to film, directed by Yulin Kuang; People We Meet on Vacation is becoming a film, adapted by Kuang and directed by Brett Haley; and a Book Lovers movie is also in development, adapted by Sarah Heyward. With Funny Story added to the list, it means all of Henry’s books are now being adapted for the screen, showcasing the author’s growing presence in Hollywood.
Speaking about her entry into the world of Hollywood, Emily Henry expressed how it has given her a new appreciation for publishing. She highlighted the differences between the two industries and the challenges of transitioning from one to the other. Henry mentioned that creating a successful movie is no easy feat, emphasizing the importance of having a great team to prevent the project from falling apart during the lengthy production process.
Despite the challenges, Emily Henry is celebrating the upcoming Funny Story film adaptation. She took to Instagram to share her excitement, calling it “a big day all around.” Fans of the book are eagerly anticipating the film and are looking forward to seeing how the beloved story will come to life on the big screen. Stay tuned for more updates on the Funny Story adaptation and other Emily Henry projects as they develop in the coming months.