Anne Hathaway has successfully tackled her share of period dramas, including the movie musical Les Misérables and the romantic biopic Becoming Jane. She’ll soon visit another time period with the big screen adaptation of Charlotte Rogan’s The Lifeboat, a harrowing story set in the early 1900s.
According to THR, Hathaway has been tapped to lead and produce The Lifeboat, which was jointly acquired by Working Title and Focus Features. Published last January, Rogan’s debut novel follows a woman who escapes a sinking ship, only to find herself at the mercy of a lifeboat full of desperate survivors. See the full synopsis, courtesy of the author’s website:
“It is the summer of 1914 and Europe is on the brink of war, but Grace Winter’s future finally seems secure as she and her new husband set sail for New York, where she hopes to win over a disapproving and status-conscious mother-in-law. When a mysterious explosion sinks their ship, Grace is thrust into a lifeboat by a quick-witted crew member, who climbs in after her even though the boat is already filled beyond capacity.
As the weather deteriorates and the passengers are forced to choose sides in a brewing power struggle, Grace realizes that her survival could depend on whether she backs the ruthless but experienced John Hardie or the enigmatic but increasingly forceful Ursula Grant. Over the course of three perilous weeks, the lifeboat passengers plot, scheme, gossip and console one another while questioning their deepest assumptions about goodness, humanity and God.
Grace is finally rescued, only to be put on trial for her life. Unsure what to make of their client, Grace’s attorneys suggest she write her story down. The result is a page-turning tale of moral dilemmas, and also a haunting portrait of a woman as unforgettable and complicated as the events she describes.”
Apollo 13 writer William Broyles Jr. will pen the screenplay and serve as executive producer. The search for a director has begun accordingly.
Have you read The Lifeboat? What do you think of Hathaway’s involvement with its adaptation?