Taika Waititi in Talks To Direct New Film Produced by Spielberg

Cord Jefferson's American Fiction — the movie adaptation of Percival Everett's novel Erasure — won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay at this year's Academy Awards, and already, the rights to another one of Everett's books have been snapped up.

This time, Steven Spielberg's Amblin Pictures will back the project — titled James — with Everett penning the screenplay and serving as executive producer.

Erasure was published in 2001, and waited 22 years for its movie adaptation, but James only hit shelves in March.

As per Variety, the book's descriptions details

While many narrative set pieces of 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' remain in place…Jim's agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.

The book made the New York Times' Best Books of 2024 list and became a NYT bestseller.

Variety reveals that Taika Waititi is in early talks to direct the project. The Oscar-winner is known for films such as Jojo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder. He is also developing a currently untitled Star Wars film.

Related: Taika Waititi’s Adaptation of Klara and the Sun Gets New Cast Members

Further information, such as casting and confirmation that Waititi will helm the project is yet to be determined, but — following the success of American Fiction — this project is going to keep your eyes on.