Paula Hawkins' smash debut is quickly becoming the next big thing in Hollywood. "The Girl on the Train" is up for a movie adaptation by Dreamworks. The production outfit recently announced that Tate Taylor will be at the helm of the movie adaptation, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Taylor, who achieved Hollywood success via 2011's "The Help," returns to Dreamworks with "The Girl on the Train." It has also been confirmed that screenwriter and playwright Erin Cressida Wilson will pen the script for the movie. Marc Platt will serve as the film's producer.
"With The Help, Tate deftly adapted a beloved novel into a compelling film that stayed true to its origin while pleasing fans and moviegoers alike," according to Holly Bario, president of Dreamworks. Bario further said that they "are excited" to work with Taylor in what could be "another bestseller."
Taylor's "The Help" earned him international recognition. The film was adapted from Kathryn Stockett's bestselling novel which shows the plight of African-American house helpers during the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi. The film grossed at least $216 million and garnered four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay in the British Academy Film Awards.
Similar with "The Help," the upcoming adaptation of "The Girl on the Train" will also feature strong female leads. Taylor's last project, "Get On Up," was a biopic on the legendary American singer James Brown released in 2014.
"The Girl on the Train," which sold more than 1.5 million copies, had spent several weeks on top of The New York Times' Bestsellers. Dreamworks acquired the rights to the novel as early as 2014, at least a year before it hit the bookstores, Variety reported. The novel is being compared to Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl," which also became a commercial success in both film and book sales.
The novel follows Rachel, an alcoholic who is coming to terms with her divorce. On her daily train ride to work, she becomes fascinated with a young couple whose house is nestled beside the train tracks. Her fascination grew to obsession, especially to the woman whom she calls Jess, until one day, Rachel becomes the witness of something she should not have seen. Soon she discovers that Jess, or Megan in reality, had vanished. Rachel must then recall the events of one fateful night to shed light on Megan's disappearance.
Dreamworks is yet to announce other details regarding the movie adaptation of the book.