Liz Meriwether, creator of New Girl and co-creator of Dying for Sex, is slated to write the screenplay adaptation of Grammy-winning pop star Britney Spears’ bestselling book, The Woman in Me. Meriwether is a four-time Emmy nominee and among the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood.

After what was rumored to be a competitive rights scramble with everyone from Shonda Rhimes to Disney throwing their hats in the ring, Universal announced in August of 2024 that they had landed the rights to the massive bestseller, with director Jon M. Chu of Wicked success and Oscar-nominated producer Marc Platt attached. Studios have been clamoring to capitalize on the success of Lionsgate’s smash hit Michael, which shattered opening weekend records for musical biopics, as Universal distributed the film abroad. With iconic titles like 8 Mile, Coal Miner's Daughter, and Ray under their belt, a Britney hit for Universal seems almost inevitable.

Spears’ revealing memoir sold more than 6 million copies globally and was the fastest-selling memoir in Simon & Schuster’s 102-year history. The book broke records in multiple formats, including an audiobook narrated by award-winning actor Michelle Williams, whose recent credits include her Golden Globe win for Dying for Sex. In the confessional book, the “…Baby One More Time” singer covered everything from her controversial conservatorship to her headline-grabbing relationship with fellow former Mouseketeer Justin Timberlake. No report has revealed who is slated to play Spears.

Jenny Catlin is a writer and pop culture enthusiast based in the square states. She’s a contributing writer to The Athletic, a Lighthouse Writers Book Project Fellow, and an award-winning essayist obsessed with obsession. You can find her on Instagram or Substack.