Oscar nominee Florence Pugh has been announced as the lead actor in the film adaptation of the popular novel ‘The Midnight Library’.
Matt Haig, the author of the book, posted the announcement on his Instagram profile on May 11, 2026, which also announced Garth Davis as director.
What is ‘The Midnight Library’?
‘The Midnight Library’ is a speculative fiction novel written in 2020 by English writer Haig.
The story features Nora Seed, a woman who finds herself in a mystical library amidst a breaking point in her life.
Situated between life and death, the library allows Nora to explore infinite versions of her life, with each book containing the outcome of a different decision in her life.
As she explores the library, Nora rediscovers her reason for living, and thus, the purpose for life itself.
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Florence Pugh and Garth Davis at the helm
Florence Pugh, known for her roles in ‘Midsommar’ (2019), ‘Little Woman’ (2019), and the Marvel Universe, was announced as the film’s lead, Nora.
The casting announcement received positive reactions on Haig’s Instagram post, with commenters calling Pugh “exquisite casting” and “perfect for the role”.
She is also reportedly set to be one of the producers, with the novel’s author Haig as executive producer.
Davis (‘Lion’, 2016) was announced as the film’s director, with Nick Payne and Laura Wade writing the script.
Positive reception
‘The Midnight Library’ was well received commercially and critically, becoming a New York Times, Boston Globe, and Washington Post bestseller.
It also reached the top of the UK Official Top 50 according to ‘The Bookseller’.
The film won the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction in 2020, and was shortlisted for the British Book Awards in 2021.
The novel’s film adaptation is set to release in 2027.
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