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Millie Bobby Brown Enlists Tom Hooper to Direct Her WWII Novel 'Nineteen Steps'

Millie Bobby Brown has brought on Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper to helm the Netflix feature adaptation of her bestselling novel, 'Nineteen Steps'. The WWII story, co-written by Brown and Kathleen McGurl, is inspired by the experiences of Brown's grandmother and centers on the Bethnal Green Tube disaster. Anthony McCarten, a four-time Oscar nominee, is adapting the screenplay for the project, which is currently in development. Brown is set to produce and is also eyeing the starring role in the film.

Key Points: Tom Hooper Directs Millie Bobby Brown's 'Nineteen Steps' for Netflix

  • Adaptation of Brown's bestselling novel
  • Tom Hooper to direct for Netflix
  • Story based on Brown's grandmother's WWII experiences
  • Features the Bethnal Green Tube disaster
  • Anthony McCarten adapting the screenplay
2 min read

Tom Hooper to direct movie adaptation of book 'Nineteen Steps'

Millie Bobby Brown produces and may star in the Netflix adaptation of her WWII novel 'Nineteen Steps,' directed by Oscar-winner Tom Hooper.

"Nineteen Steps is a WWII novel drawing on the experiences of Brown's grandmother. - Deadline"

Washington DC, April 21

Millie Bobby Brown has roped in Academy Award winner Tom Hooper to direct the feature adaptation of her New York Times bestselling novel 'Nineteen Steps' for Netflix, reported Deadline.

As previously announced, Anthony McCarten, the four-time Oscar nominee behind films like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'The Theory of Everything', is set to adapt the screenplay for the film, which is currently in development.

Millie Bobby Brown, Jake Bongiovi and Bobby Brown are producing for PCMA alongside Jonathan Eirich for Rideback, with an eye for Brown to star. Nick Reynolds will exec produce for Rideback.

According to Deadline, Nineteen Steps is a WWII novel drawing on the experiences of Brown's grandmother. Written by Brown and Kathleen McGurl, the story follows Nellie Morris, an 18-year-old girl living in the East London neighbourhood of Bethnal Green.

Over the course of the book, Nellie navigates the challenges of wartime life, including the threat of bombings, rationing, and the emotional turmoil of being separated from loved ones, while charting a new romance with American airman, Ray. At the historical core of the novel is the Bethnal Green Tube disaster, one of the worst civilian disasters in the UK during the war, where 173 people were killed in a crush as they sought shelter during an air raid, reported Deadline.

As for the director, Hooper won the Oscar for Best Director for 'The King's Speech' and is otherwise best known for helming the Oscar-winning films 'Les Miserables' and 'The Danish Girl'.

Most recently, he was attached to direct Photograph 51, an adaptation of the Anna Ziegler play of the same name that will star Natalie Portman as Rosalind Franklin, the groundbreaking British scientist who first unveiled the hidden structure of DNA. That project was announced during last year's Cannes Market, reported Deadline.

For Millie Bobby Brown, other upcoming projects include the Netflix films 'Enola Holmes 3' and 'Just Picture It'.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Interesting! A story based on her grandmother's experiences. We have so many untold WWII stories from the Indian perspective too - the soldiers, the home front. Maybe this will inspire more such adaptations. Good team assembled though.
A
Aman W
Tom Hooper directing is a solid win. But I hope they do justice to the historical event - the Bethnal Green disaster. 173 civilians... that's heartbreaking. These stories need sensitive handling, not just turned into a romance backdrop.
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Sarah B
Millie Bobby Brown is everywhere! From Stranger Things to producing and starring in her own book adaptation. She's quite the powerhouse for someone so young. Curious to see how this period piece turns out on Netflix.
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Vikram M
Anthony McCarten writing the screenplay is promising. 'The Theory of Everything' was excellent. Hope the film captures the resilience of ordinary people during war. We grew up hearing similar stories from our grandparents about the Partition era. Different war, same human spirit.
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Nikhil C
Netflix is really investing in historical dramas. As an Indian viewer, I enjoy these, but I also wish they'd greenlight more projects on Indian history with this level of budget and talent. Just saying! 😊 Still, will probably watch this.

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