Alex Michaelides’ bestselling psychological thriller The Silent Patient is set for a feature film adaptation, with Sony Pictures joining Annapurna and Plan B as producers.
According to Deadline, the project is being fast-tracked, with the makers hoping to bring a writer on board in the coming months.
The novel follows Alicia Berenson, a celebrated painter who kills her husband and then refuses to speak again. Her silence turns her into a media sensation, making her artwork more valuable than ever.
The mystery attracts Theo Faber, a therapist determined to uncover the truth behind Alicia’s silence. As he gets closer to Alicia and the people connected to her, he discovers hidden secrets that lead to a shocking revelation and ending.
Published in 2019 by Celadon Books in the United States and Orion Books in the United Kingdom, The Silent Patient debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. The book remained on the chart for more than 200 weeks.
The novel has sold over 12 million copies worldwide and has been translated and published in 51 countries.
Sony Pictures has developed a strong track record with literary adaptations. Its recent successes include It Ends With Us, which earned more than $350 million globally, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, which crossed $200 million worldwide, and Where the Crawdads Sing.
The studio is also preparing an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, starring Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning.
Meanwhile, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner’s Plan B has produced several acclaimed book adaptations, including Sony’s Eat Pray Love, The Big Short, World War Z, Underground Railroad, Women Talking and Nickel Boys.
The company’s recent projects include F1 and the award-winning series Adolescence. It is currently producing an adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, directed by Sarah Polley and starring Billie Eilish, along with The Isle of Man featuring Channing Tatum.
Upcoming Plan B projects include The Riders, directed by Edward Berger and starring Brad Pitt, based on Tim Winton’s novel, and Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
Annapurna’s recent projects include I Love Boosters, The Testament of Ann Lee and the Oscar-nominated animated film Nimona, which was based on the award-winning graphic novel. The company’s film The Invite is currently in theatres.
Michaelides is represented by Katie Haines at The Agency, RCW and Anonymous Content.
