The Emily Henry Cinematic Universe is shaping up nicely with adaptations of People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read underway. Now it seems her 2023 novel Happy Place might be headed for the screen too.
Deadline reports that Netflix has optioned the bestseller for Jennifer Lopez’s production company, Nuyorican Productions. The plan is adapt the novel into a series, and “producers and streaming executives are currently meeting with writers,” according to the outlet. Netflix has yet to publicly address the news, but Lopez herself shared confirmation on her Instagram Story.
Henry also confirmed the reports on her own Instagram account. She previously spoke to ELLE.com in April about entering the film world. “The thing that’s exciting to me about the [film] adaptations is that they’re collaborations,” she said. “You get to work with a group of people, and they put their own voice and thumbprint on this thing, and it becomes something you could never make on your own. That is such a fun experience.”
Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming series.
What is Happy Place about?
According to the book’s synopsis, the story follows a former couple, Harriet and Wyn. They’re a seemingly perfect duo, who have been together since college—but they broke up five months ago and haven’t told any of their friends.
They continue to keep their split a secret during their annual friend group getaway in a cozy cottage in Maine, where they’ve all vacationed together for the last 10 years. Not wanting to upset the group, Harriet and Wyn pretend their relationship is still going strong.
Should be easy…right?
We still don’t know if or how much the story will be changed for its series form.
Who’s in the cast?
As Henry clarified on Instagram on June 26, “no one has been cast yet.” However, she added, “When they are, they will be actors in their late 20s to early 30s 😅.” In the meantime, she welcomes fans to share their ideal Harriet and Wyn.
We do have an idea of who’s working behind the scenes. Lopez and her producing partners, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina, will produce the series, according to Deadline. Nuyorican Productions landed a first-look deal with Netflix in 2021, and has since delivered the J.Lo-fronted films Atlas and The Mother on the platform.
Henry appears to be involved as well. While responding to one of her comments, she assured that the adaptation would not be in the “YA” genre, despite Deadline’s report. She wrote, “Hollywood just doesn’t understand what that term means. Don’t worry, It’ll be late 20s to early 30s. I’m very lucky Nuyorican wants me involved (a lot of production companies don’t like having the authors included) so I’m going to do my best and fight my hardest to make it something you will all love.”
This story will be updated.