Tobey Maguire's film banner Material had recently acquired the rights to the comedy novel "I Take You" by first-time author Eliza Kennedy. The novel was just released on May 5 and is on its way to the big screen, Deadline reports.
Maguire and Matthew Plouffe are to produce the film adaptation, together with Helen Estabrook, producer of the critically-acclaimed movie "Whiplash." The author herself is set to pen the movie's script.
"Eliza has a rare voice - the book is as hilarious as it is provocative. She challenges readers to ask questions about the state of marriage and monogamy in the 21st century that are exciting and even polarizing," Plouffe said. He further adds that the positive reception of the book is "going to spark a lot of discussion" among audiences, and that the material itself is "tailor-made for film."
"I Take You" follows the story of Lily, a 20-something lawyer from New York whose looming wedding date to the seemingly perfect fiance, named Will, made her wonder her ability to stay faithful 'for better or worse, till death do they part.' Lily tries to come to terms with her cold feet by drinking lots of alcohol and other "questionable decisions" might just turn the supposedly happiest day of her life to complete nightmare, according to the book's description.
The New York Times says that "I Take You" is "a salty, lively first novel" and the novel's protagonist "frenetic and funny." National Public Radio shares similar sentiments over Kennedy's novel, saying that it "is a sassy paean to pleasure and romantic love ."
Kennedy, who shares a lot of things in common with her main character, was also a lawyer from New York before quitting her job. She now juggles writing and taking care of her son, Cooper with husband, writer Joshua Ferris. Speaking to Interview magazine, Kennedy revealed that the message of her novel was not deliberate. "I didn't conceive of the book as 'I want to share this message about monogamy," Kennedy explained. "I conceived it as a very quick and comical read. One of those books that's very enjoyable, and you're sorry when it's over, but then it's over." However, Kennedy shares that when she was about to finish writing the book, that was when she realized that she has written something "substantive" about her thoughts regarding monogamy and that she has "more to say about some of these issues."
"Most wedding books-and really fairytales-are about the wedding as the ending, and I wanted this beginning," Kennedy said.