Lily James (Downton Abbey, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies) will star in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, based on the bestselling book by Annie Barros & Mary Ann Shaffer, Deadline reported. Directed by Mike Newell from a script written by Don Roos & Tom Bezucha, the film's producers are Mazur/Kaplan Company's Paula Mazur and Books & Books owner Mitchell Kaplan; alongside Blueprint Pictures' Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin. Filming is set to begin in the U.K. next spring.
"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has been a project of tremendous passion for us, and we are thrilled to be bringing it to screen with filmmaker Mike Newell attached and Lily James, our consummate Juliet," said Mazur.
Ron Halpern, Studiocanal's executive v-p, international productions & acquisitions, added that the studio "is thrilled to be partnering with Mazur/Kaplan and Blueprint Pictures to bring Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Schaffer's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to the big screen. We have always admired Mike Newell as a director and it would be an honor to finally work with him. Lily James is the perfect actress to bring this incredible character to life."