Britney Spears’ memoir ‘The Woman in Me’ is becoming a movie

Britney Spears‘ best-selling memoir The Woman in Me is officially heading to the big screen, with Universal Pictures confirming a screenwriter has now signed on to develop the long-planned biopic.

TL;DR

• Universal has hired Liz Meriwether, creator of New Girl, to write the screenplay.
• Jon M. Chu, director of Wicked, is attached to helm the project.
• Producer Marc Platt is developing the film, which Universal optioned in August 2024.
• No casting or release date has been confirmed yet.

Screenwriter officially attached to the project

Universal Pictures has brought on Liz Meriwether to write the first draft of the screenplay, according to a report from Variety. Meriwether is best known for creating New Girl and for co-creating Dying for Sex, giving her experience blending humour with heavier personal material.

Her hiring marks the first major creative addition to the film since Chu joined as director. Deadline reported the film will trace Spears’ journey from her upbringing in McComb, Mississippi, through her rise as a multi-platinum pop star.

Why this matters now

Universal first acquired the rights to The Woman in Me in August 2024 following a competitive bidding process, according to NME. Spears confirmed the deal herself on social media at the time, telling fans she had been working on a “secret project” with Platt.

Nearly two years on, a script is finally underway, which fans have taken as a sign the film is moving from development into active production planning. Chu is also known for adapting large-scale musical stories, having directed Wicked, which raises expectations for how the biopic will handle Spears’ music.

UK bestseller status adds to the story

UK fact: The Woman in Me was not just a US hit. According to publishing trade title The Bookseller, the memoir topped the UK book charts on release and set a new sales record for publisher Simon & Schuster in the region.

Stat card

1.1 million copies sold in its first week across all formats Source: Reported sales figures cited by Wikipedia and multiple outlets

What’s still unknown

Casting for the role of Spears has not been announced. Universal has not confirmed a release date, and no distribution plans — theatrical, streaming, or both — have been finalised.

Reportedly, a realistic production timeline would put filming no earlier than late 2026, with a theatrical release unlikely before 2027 or 2028, though Universal has not confirmed a schedule.

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Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed July 10, 2026.