Florence Pugh is officially headed to the space between life and death. The Oscar-nominated actress has signed on to star in and produce The Midnight Library, the feature adaptation from bestselling author Matt Haig. Garth Davis, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Lion, will direct the fantasy drama.
Described as a “love letter to life,” the film follows Nora Seed, a woman who discovers a mysterious library existing between life and death where every book represents an alternate version of the life she could have lived. As Nora journeys through different realities and choices, she’s forced to confront regret, possibility, and what truly makes life meaningful.
Pugh will play Nora in the adaptation, which is set to launch sales at the upcoming Marché du Film during the Festival de Cannes.
The screenplay comes from writers Laura Wade and Nick Payne, while Haig will executive produce alongside Blueprint Pictures and Studiocanal. Pre-production is expected to begin this fall ahead of a planned 2027 shoot.
Davis expressed excitement about reuniting with Pugh on the project. “I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with Florence Pugh on The Midnight Library,” he said. “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.”
Haig echoed that enthusiasm, saying he was thrilled Nora’s story was “in such great hands” and praising the creative team assembled for the adaptation.
Meanwhile, Anna Marsh, CEO of Studiocanal and Chief Content Officer of Canal+ Group, called the film “a tantalizingly powerful take” on Haig’s emotional story and praised Pugh as the ideal choice to guide audiences through Nora’s existential journey.
The casting continues Pugh’s run as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after dramatic talents following acclaimed performances in Midsommar, Little Women, Oppenheimer and Dune: Part Two.
Last year, Pugh also spoke candidly on The Louis Theroux Podcast about the pressures actresses can face on set, recalling an emotionally exhausting crying scene in which she felt unable to push back on additional takes because she worried it would negatively affect how she was perceived professionally.
“And I realized when I was in the tent,” Pugh explained, “I was like, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t have been able to have said that because that wouldn’t have been received well.’”
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