Could we be witnessing the birth of the one successful adaptation of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, courtesy of Oscar winners Billie Eilish and Sarah Polley? All signs point to yes.
The internet is abuzz following reports from The Insneider and Deadline claiming Eilish is on the verge of signing on for an adaptation of the American literary classic by the award-winning director, which is reportedly in the works from Joy Gorman Wettels's Joy Coalition, Brad Pitt's Plan B, and StudioCanal. (Gorman Wettels is also executive producing Netflix's Little House on the Prairie reboot, which got an early season two renewal.)
Following an ill-fated 1979 adaptation starring Marilyn Hassett and Julie Harris, boasting a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, many have tried to adapt The Bell Jar to no avail. Could Polley's version beat the curse? Keep reading for everything we know so far about the project.
What is The Bell Jar about?
The Bell Jar is an adaptation of Sylvia Plath's novel of the same name, which is notably the only novel the American writer authored in her career. It was originally published in 1963 under a pseudonym and is widely considered a semi-autobiographical work.
Per HarperCollins's website, The Bell Jar “chronicles the breakdown of Esther Greenwood, a bright, beautiful, enormously talented college student coming of age in 1950s America, as she navigates the pressures of society along with her own ambitions. While at a prestigious, competitively won position at a New York City magazine one summer, Esther finds herself struggling with the looming expectations of marriage, motherhood, and giving up on her dreams to achieve them. She becomes increasingly disillusioned, and her mental health deteriorates, ultimately leading her to undergo harsh treatment and therapy.”
Who is directing The Bell Jar?
Per Deadline's report, Canadian filmmaker, writer, and actor Sarah Polley is attached to direct The Bell Jar. She is also set to pen the script.
Polley is best known for her work on Women Talking, another novel adaptation, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2023 Oscars. She directed and wrote the script for Women Talking. Polley notably worked with Plan B, which is also behind The Bell Jar, for Women Talking.
Polley previously earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2007 for her directorial debut, Away from Her. The movie, which she also penned and directed, was adapted from a 2001 short story by Canadian writer Alice Munro. So, suffice to say, she knows her way around a literary adaptation.
Who is in the cast of The Bell Jar?
While no official casting announcements have yet been made for The Bell Jar, Deadline reported that Billie Eilish is “in advanced talks” to take on the titular role of Esther Greenwood in the movie.
Eilish, a Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician, made her acting debut in 2023, appearing in an episode of Donald Glover's satirical thriller Swarm on Prime Video. Her portrayal as Eva, the leader of an all-female cult-like group, earned positive reviews from critics.
The Bell Jar would be Eilish's acting debut in a movie, which she has previously said was her dream. “I used to say that I hated acting, but the truth is, when I was little, I loved it. My mom and dad were both actors. So is my brother, Finneas. And it was my dream to be in a movie," she said in 2021 during her SNL monologue.
In an interview with Rolling Stone from 2019, she also talked about coming from an acting family, saying, “Acting is superweird. You can work for years and years and be the best in the world and never get a role, and you can be mediocre, do one audition, and become a huge star. For years, I saw my parents beat up over the fact that they didn’t have it better. And that drove me insane—because they were really good! My dad is the best actor I’ve ever seen. And my mom can do all these voices and characters—she’s incredible. So I wish they’d had more recognition. I actually want to make a movie and put them in it—I’ve never told anyone that.”
Deadline reported that there are “no plans at this stage for Eilish to contribute music” to The Bell Jar.
Does The Bell Jar have a release date?
At the time of writing, The Bell Jar does not have a release date window, as Deadline reports that Focus Features is still “closing a deal to back and distribute” the project in the US.
However, it is worth noting that HarperCollins does have a reedition of Sylvia Plath's book, with a new cover that is “coming soon,” slated for release on November 3, 2026. While this is all conjectural, books do tend to get new editions with movie posters, so we shall stay tuned to see if that is the case.
This post will be updated as news about Sarah Polley's adaptation of The Bell Jar breaks.
