Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh (Dune franchise) is set to star in and produce fantasy drama The Midnight Library, which will be directed by Lion filmmaker Garth Davis, we can reveal.

In the “love letter to life”, Pugh “will play Nora Seed, who finds herself in a library between life and death with the chance to experience all the potential lives she could have lived”.

Studiocanal and Blueprint Pictures are behind the project, which the former is launching for the Cannes market. The regular collaborators optioned Matt Haig’s popular novel, which has a screenplay by Olivier Award winner Laura Wade (Rivals) and Tony nominee Nick Payne (We Live In Time).

Haig will executive-produce. First published by Canongate in 2020, the book has sold 15 million copies and has been translated into 56 languages.

The plan is for the project to enter pre-production this fall with shoot at the start of 2027. Studiocanal will release theatrically across their territory footprint of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Benelux, Australia and NZ.

Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin of Blueprint Pictures will produce with Anita Overland and Florence Pugh. Blueprint’s Ben Knight and Diarmuid McKeown executive produce. Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern and Dan MacRae executive-produce for Studiocanal.

Garth Davis commented:”I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with Florence Pugh on The Midnight Library. 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. With Graham Broadbent, Blueprint Pictures and Studiocanal behind us, I can’t wait to illuminate this adventure.”

Haig said: “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. And I can’t wait for people to see my book reimagined for the big screen.”  

Anna Marsh, CEO Studiocanal and Chief Content Officer of Canal+ Group added: “We are thrilled to be working with such exceptional talent to bring Matt Haig’s deeply moving novel to the big screen in partnership with Blueprint Pictures. Garth’s film is a love letter to life, a tantalisingly powerful take on a script that gives you the immediacy and high stakes of time running out with unparalleled emotion. I cannot wait for Florence Pugh to take us on Nora’s journey as she finds her way to a profound love for life.”

Pugh is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and attorney JSSK. Garth Davis is represented by United Talent Agency, Anonymous Content and Jackoway Tyerman. Matt Haig is represented by Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh. Laura Wade is represented by Knight Hall Agency. Nick Payne is represented by Curtis Brown and UTA.