Ana de Armas has expressed a keen interest in donning the hat of Hollywood legend Evelyn Hugo for the upcoming film adaptation. In an engaging conversation with Entertainment Tonight, de Armas affirmed her awareness of the fervent fan campaign urging her to embody the titular role in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Netflix's eagerly anticipated screen version of Taylor Jenkins Reid's best-selling 2017 novel. "I heard that, indeed," she responded with a smile to ET.
When prompted about stepping away from her action-packed repertoire to tackle a character as multifaceted as Evelyn Hugo, the actress revealed, "One of the joys of my craft and career is the versatility it allows. You must sample the full spectrum of opportunities; variety is the spice of life, after all."
Netflix's announcement in 2022 that Evelyn Hugo was inching closer to becoming a feature film marked a thrilling milestone. Penning the screenplay is Liz Tigelaar, the visionary behind Little Fires Everywhere, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. The production is bolstered by producers such as Liza Chasin of 3Dot Productions and Brad Mendelsohn of Circle of Confusion, with Reid and Margaret Chernin executive producing.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo revolves around the enigmatic and reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo, who enlists an obscure journalist, Monique Grant, to pen her tell-all memoir. This exposé delves into her life's journey, her ascension to fame during Hollywood's golden era, and, for the first time, unveils the secrets behind her seven marriages. Evelyn, ever the tabloid favorite, also reveals her true self beyond the cameras and the rationale behind choosing Monique for her final confession.
Although the casting for the film remains under wraps, fans have eagerly speculated on potential stars to bring the book's characters to life, with Jessica Chastain, de Armas, and Eiza González topping the wishlists. Chastain, in an interview with E! News in 2023, reluctantly quashed rumors of her portraying Celia St. James, stating, "There's zero possibility of that happening." However, she added, "I adore the enthusiasm of the fans. When I was on Broadway, they'd be outside every day, clutching their copies of the book. Their dedication is incredible." She concluded, "I'm excited to see the film and am sorry to disappoint all you out there."
González, too, has shown openness to donning Evelyn's iconic mantle, expressing, "It would be such an honor. I'm a huge fan of Reid's work and adore the book."
Evelyn Hugo joins an impressive roster of Reid's novels being adapted for various platforms. The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported that Reid's recent novel Malibu Rising is being developed into a Hulu series, with Tigelaar executive producing and Amy Talkington penning the script. Reid's One True Loves was also adapted into a film directed by Andy Fickman, starring Hamilton's Phillipa Soo, Shang-Chi's Simu Liu, and Holidate's Luke Bracey. Meanwhile, her bestseller Daisy Jones and The Six captivated audiences as a Prime Video series featuring Riley Keough and Sam Claflin.
