Emma Cline’s bestselling novel The Guest may soon make its way to the big screen. According to Deadline, A24 and Square Peg are in negotiations to acquire the film rights, with Stranger Things star Sadie Sink in talks to lead the project. Lorene Scafaria is also in discussions to write and direct the feature, while Sink is expected to produce alongside Square Peg.
Published by Penguin Random House in 2024, The Guest follows a calculating con artist navigating the high-stakes social landscape of summer in the Hamptons. The novel received widespread critical acclaim, earning a longlisting for the PEN/Faulkner Award and selection as a Belletrist Book Club pick. It was also named one of the year’s best books by numerous publications, including The New Yorker, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Vogue, Glamour and Newsweek.
Interest in adapting the novel has been strong since its release, with several studios and high-profile talent reportedly competing for the rights. Sources say Sink, a longtime fan of the book, moved quickly when the rights became available over the summer, attaching herself to the project before Scafaria joined the package shortly afterward.
Approximately 12 other potential buyers reportedly entered the bidding process. However, the package led by Sink and Scafaria, backed by A24 and Square Peg, ultimately emerged as the frontrunner. A24 is now in exclusive negotiations to secure the rights.
With Stranger Things having concluded, Sink is moving into the next phase of her career with a growing slate of major projects. She recently starred as Jean Grey opposite Tom Holland in the record-breaking Spider-Man: Brand New Day and is expected to reprise the role in the upcoming Marvel film X-Men, which is scheduled to begin production early next year.
Scafaria is best known for directing the crime drama Hustlers, starring Jennifer Lopez. Her television credits also include directing several episodes of HBO’s Emmy-winning series Succession.
Sink is represented by WME and Peikoff Mahan, while Scafaria is represented by UTA and Sloane Offer Dern Weber. Cline is represented by Anonymous Content and the Clegg Agency.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
