"The Glass Castle" actress Naomi Watts and "Little Big Lies" actress Reese Witherspoon are set to produce the Australian book adaptation of "Penguin Bloom." They are teaming with Bruna Papandrea as producers along with Aussie-based producer Emma Cooper.
According to Variety, Watts is attached to star in "Penguin Bloom." She was captivated by the life-affirming nature of the story. Papandrea had a similar reaction, thus optioning them to produce with Watts set to star.
Best-selling author Bradley Trevor Greive wrote the "Penguin Bloom" book on which the film will be based, Deadline reported. With photographs by Cameron Bloom, the book is based on a true story and revolves around a unique little bird that saves a family spirits after the mother was paralyzed in an accident. Atria Books will publish it on April 4 in the U.S. and Canada under the title "Penguin The Magpie," with 10% of royalties going to those spinal cure charities.
"Penguin Bloom" is set on Sydney's northern beaches. Cameron and Sam Bloom and their three boys were an everyday family until a shocking, near-fatal accident left Sam paralyzed. She fell from a balcony while on holiday in Thailand and was left paralyzed from the chest down.
In the plot of "Penguin Bloom," the family struggled to adjust to Sam's new situation. Then, an unlikely ally entered their lives in the form of an injured Magpie chick which the Bloom clan called Penguin. The wild bird became a mascot for the family.
Watts will next be seen starring for Colin Trevorrow in "The Book Of Henry" and the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed "The Glass Castle" opposite Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson. She also stars in the Netflix psychological thriller "Gypsy." She is repped by CAA.
Witherspoon and Papandrea have together produced "Wild" (2014), "Gone Girl" (2014), and "Hot Pursuit" (2015). They are teamed on "Luckiest Girl Alive" at Lionsgate and "Ashley's War" at Fox 2000. The actress can be next seen in "Little Big Lies" and is represented by CAA and LBI Entertainment.
Once a screenwriter and director are selected, "Penguin Bloom" is expected to shoot in Australia sometime this year.
Watch the video about Reese Witherspoon and Naomi Watts teaming for "Penguin Bloom" adaptation:
