‘Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It’ Movie in the Works at Netflix From ‘The Nightingale’ Producer, ‘Book Lovers’ Screenwriter (EXCLUSIVE)
by Jennifer Maas · Variety“Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast” co-host Brooke Averick‘s debut novel, “Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It,” is being adapted into a movie at Netflix.
Following a highly competitive bidding war, the streamer landed the film rights to Averick’s “Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It,” which has spent two weeks on the New York Times’ bestseller list since its May 26 release.
Per the official description for Averick’s book, “Phoebe Berman fears the one thing she wants the most: love. Thanks to an extremely unfortunate first kiss attempt, crippling intimacy anxiety has plagued her since she was a teen. Phoebe has so much going for her: a dream teaching job, a supportive and hilarious group of best friends, and all the romance novels a girl could want at her fingertips—but she can’t help but beat herself up over the one thing she can’t quite seem to figure out. Determined to change this, she drafts up the ultimate ‘Guide to Losing My Virginity’ checklist with the hope of finally getting laid. Suddenly, she goes from a relatively boring (basically non-existent) dating life to juggling three romantic prospects at once.”
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“The Nightingale” producer Elizabeth Cantillon is attached to produce from a script written by “Book Lovers” screenwriter Sarah Heyward. Podcaster and comedian Averick will executive produce.
Averick, who boasts more than 1.5 million followers across social media platforms, is co-host of TMG Studios’ talk-show “Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast” alongside Connor Wood, and formerly hosted the solo podcast “Obsessed with Brooke Averick.”
Cantillon is producer on the two upcoming buzzy book adaptations: Kristin Hannah’s bestseller “The Nightingale,” starring Elle and Dakota Fanning for TriStar Pictures, and “The Love Hypothesis,” based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling novel for Amazon. Previously, Cantillon was an executive vice president at Sony overseeing films including the James Bond franchise, “The Social Network,” “Captain Phillips” and “Eat Pray Love.”
Heyward is currently writing an original feature for “Chicken Shop Date” star Amelia Dimoldenberg, Gloria Sanchez and Orion. She recently completed the script for the film adaptation of Emily Henry’s “Book Lovers” for Tango Entertainment. On the TV side, Heyward is writing “Sweet Valley High” for Paramount+ and serves as a co-executive producer on “Nobody Wants This” Season 3 at Netflix.
Averick, Cantillon and Heyward are represented by UTA.
The deal for the film rights to “Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It,” which closed ahead of the novel’s publication, was brokered by UTA on behalf of the author.