Books

The Book Everyone Was Talking About Last Summer Is Coming To TV

by Emma Oulton

There's a new TV drama coming to your screens with a big name attached: Brad Pitt is producing a TV series based on Stephanie Danler's bestselling novel Sweetbitter. The rights to the TV adaptation of Sweetbitter were fought over in a multiple-network bidding war, before it was announced that Starz would develop the show, with Brad Pitt's company Plan B attached to produce. Brad Pitt has previously produced projects from The OA to Moonlight, and this latest acquisition puts him in the same league as Reese Witherspoon, whose talent for adapting novels is becoming world-renowned.

But incredible as it seems, Brad Pitt might not even be the most exciting thing about this project. Stephanie Danler's debut novel Sweetbitter already has a massive fan base, and rightly so. Sweetbitter follows 22-year-old Tess working a chaotic job in a famous downtown New York restaurant, and the life she is thrown into of food, wine, drugs, and lust. The book received rave reviews for its simultaneously alluring and punishing descriptions of the exclusive world behind the scenes of New York City restaurants — and with Brad Pitt steering this adaptation, I think we may just have the next Big Little Lies on our hands.

Stephanie Danler was a waitress herself before releasing her debut novel, and even met her editor when she served him at the restaurant where she worked. She sent him her manuscript, and was offered a six-figure, two-book deal. Talk about a generous tip.

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

Danler has adapted the screenplay herself, so we can trust that it will still have her trademark style that we loved so much. No word yet on the casting for the Sweetbitter TV show, but I can't help but wonder if we'll see any of Brad Pitt's famous friends pop up in the credits...

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