Britney's Story Hits Screen
Universal Pictures Advances Britney Spears Biopic with Liz Meriwether Writing and Jon M. Chu Directing
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Key Points
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The Woman in Me has demonstrated extraordinary commercial impact: it sold 1.1 million copies in its first week, has surpassed 6 million copies sold worldwide, and the audiobook—narrated by Michelle Williams with an introduction by Spears—became the fastest-selling audiobook in the history of a major publishing house.
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Liz Meriwether brings notable industry clout to the project: she is a WGA winner for Dying for Sex, a PGA winner for The Dropout, has four Primetime Emmy nominations, and previously wrote No Strings Attached, underscoring her prestige for a high-profile biopic.
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Jon M. Chu's involvement anchors the project with a track record of big-range adaptations, including Crazy Rich Asians and the Wicked films, reinforcing Universal's intent for a blockbuster-scale biopic.
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Britney Spears publicly signaled the collaboration in August 2024 by teasing a secret project with Marc Platt on social media, highlighting Spears’ active engagement and confidence in the producers shaping her story.
Universal Pictures has hired Liz Meriwether, creator of New Girl, to write the screenplay for a Britney Spears biopic based on Spears' 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me, according to Billboard and Yahoo Entertainment. Jon M. Chu will direct and Marc Platt will produce the film, reuniting the team behind the blockbuster Wicked.
The memoir has been a publishing phenomenon. It sold 1.1 million copies in its first week and has surpassed 6 million copies sold worldwide. The audiobook, narrated by Michelle Williams, became the fastest-selling audiobook in a major publisher's history.
Meriwether Brings Award-Winning TV Pedigree to Project
Meriwether is best known for creating New Girl, but her recent work makes her a strong fit for a high-profile biopic. She won a WGA Award for Dying for Sex and a PGA Award for The Dropout. She also has four Primetime Emmy nominations and previously wrote the feature film No Strings Attached, according to Billboard.
Her experience telling true, complicated stories about women gives the project serious creative credibility. Universal is clearly aiming for more than a standard pop-star biography.
Chu's Blockbuster Track Record Signals Big-Screen Ambition
Jon M. Chu directed Crazy Rich Asians and both parts of Wicked, proving he can handle large-scale adaptations with mass appeal. His attachment signals that Universal wants the Spears biopic to perform at a blockbuster level, not just as an awards-season prestige film.
Chu and Platt are already a proven pair. Their work on Wicked showed they could turn a beloved cultural property into a major box-office event. The Spears project puts that same blueprint to work on a real-life story.
Spears Publicly Backed the Project Before It Was Announced
Spears herself telegraphed the collaboration in August 2024. She teased a "secret project" with producer Marc Platt on social media, signaling her active role in shaping how her story gets told, according to kvpionline.com.
Universal secured rights to The Woman in Me in August 2024, shortly after that public tease. Spears' early enthusiasm suggests she is not a passive subject but a participant in the project's direction.
A Memoir That Broke Records Now Heads to the Big Screen
The Woman in Me covers Spears' rise to global fame, her years under conservatorship, and her most personal struggles. The book's 1.1 million first-week sales shattered publishing expectations. Its audiobook set a speed record for a major publishing house, according to Billboard.
With over 6 million copies sold worldwide, the built-in audience for a film adaptation is massive. Universal now has a team in place — a proven screenwriter, a blockbuster director, and an engaged subject — to turn that audience into ticket buyers.
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