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'Where'd You Go, Bernadette' moves toward the big screen

The movie version of Maria Semple's novel will be produced by Nina Jacobson ('The Hunger Games') and Megan Ellison ('Zero Dark Thirty').

'Where'd You Go, Bernadette' follows the disappearance of once-prominent architect Bernadette Fox and the efforts of her daughter, Bee, to locate her.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

A behind-the-scenes team is being assembled for the film adaptation of Maria Semple’s bestselling Seattle-based satire “Where’d You Go, Bernadette.”

Producers Nina Jacobson, who is currently one of the producers behind “The Hunger Games,” and Megan Ellison, who served as one of the producers on current Oscar contenders “Zero Dark Thirty” and “The Master,” will be working together on the film. Jacobson’s company is Color Force, while Ellison’s is Annapurna Pictures.

It had earlier been announced that the script will be written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, who worked together previously co-writing the film “(500) Days of Summer,” starring Zooey Deschanel, as well as co-writing “The Pink Panther 2” with other writers and co-creating the 2011 TV series “Friends with Benefits,” which aired 12 episodes.

There’s no word yet on who will play mercurial mother Bernadette or her whip-smart daughter, Bee.  

“I’m very grateful to be collaborating with Megan Ellison to bring Maria’s extraordinary book to the screen,” Jacobson said in a statement. “We are off to a great start with Neustadter and Weber, whose voices and creative agility make them a perfect match for 'Bernadette.' ”

Semple said she was extremely pleased with the choice to bring Jacobson and Ellison on board.

“I'm bouncy with excitement that they and the whole Color Force and Annapurna teams will be ushering Bernadette onto the big screen,” the writer said of the two in a statement.

Semple will also serve as an executive producer. A release date for the film has not yet been set.

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