Sony joins The Silent Patient film with Annapurna and Plan B
Alex Michaelides’ bestselling thriller is moving ahead as a feature, with Sony Pictures joining Annapurna and Plan B on the adaptation.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Sony Pictures has stepped into the film version of The Silent Patient, the breakout thriller by Alex Michaelides, with Annapurna and Plan B attached to produce, Deadline reported.
The project adapts Michaelides’ debut novel, a publishing juggernaut that opened at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list and has spent more than 200 weeks on that list, according to Deadline.
The story follows Alicia Berenson, a celebrated painter who kills her husband and then stops speaking. Her silence turns her into a public obsession, while her work becomes more valuable.
Theo Faber, a therapist, is drawn into her case and tries to reach her when others have failed. As he examines Alicia’s life and the people around her, the mystery behind her silence builds toward the book’s final reveal.
Celadon Books published The Silent Patient in the U.S., while Orion Books released it in the U.K. Deadline reported that the novel has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and has been translated and published in 51 countries.
The deal puts Sony back in the literary-adaptation lane. Deadline cited several recent Sony book-to-screen projects, including It Ends With Us, which grossed more than $350 million globally, and Little Women, which made more than $200 million worldwide. The studio also released Where the Crawdads Sing and has The Nightingale, based on Kristin Hannah’s bestseller, coming with Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning starring.
Plan B Entertainment, run by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, brings its own shelf of book-based credits. Deadline listed Eat Pray Love, The Big Short, World War Z, Underground Railroad, Women Talking and Nickel Boys among the company’s adaptations.
The company’s recent work includes F1 and the award-winning series Adolescence, according to Deadline. Plan B is also in production on The Bell Jar, directed by Sarah Polley and starring Billie Eilish, as well as Isle of Man with Channing Tatum. Upcoming projects include The Riders, directed by Edward Berger and starring Pitt, and Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
Annapurna’s current slate includes The Invite in theaters, Deadline reported. Its recent films include I Love Boosters, The Testament of Ann Lee and Nimona, the Oscar-nominated animated feature based on the graphic novel.
Michaelides is represented by Katie Haines at The Agency, RCW and Anonymous Content, according to Deadline.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.