The Midnight Library Starring Florence Pugh Lands at Paramount for $36 Million

Published: Friday, May 29, 2026 at 4:43 am

Paramount Secures Rights to "The Midnight Library" for $36 Million

Paramount Pictures has won the rights to distribute the film adaptation of Matt Haig's novel, "The Midnight Library," for a reported $36 million. The film, starring Florence Pugh and directed by Garth Davis, was the subject of a competitive bidding war, with Focus Features and Sony also vying for the North American distribution rights.

The project's worldwide sales were launched during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where the initial interest in the film was revealed. Studiocanal will handle distribution in several key territories, including the U.K., France, Germany, and Australia, while Paramount will manage distribution for the rest of the world.

The film's production team includes Studiocanal and Blueprint Pictures, who first optioned Haig's bestselling novel six years ago. Davis, who previously worked with Pugh on the Netflix series "East of Eden," expressed his excitement about reuniting with the actress and bringing Haig's story to life. Haig himself has expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating he is pleased with the team assembled to bring his novel to the big screen.

"The Midnight Library" centers on Nora Seed, who finds herself in a mystical library between life and death. There, she is given the opportunity to explore the various alternative lives she could have lived. The film is scheduled to begin pre-production this fall.

BNN's Perspective: The acquisition of "The Midnight Library" by Paramount, and the involvement of talent like Florence Pugh and Garth Davis, suggests a promising project with the potential to resonate with a wide audience. The film's exploration of life's possibilities and complexities could provide a thought-provoking cinematic experience. The competitive bidding process highlights the film's appeal and the industry's continued interest in adapting popular literary works.

Keywords: The Midnight Library, Florence Pugh, Garth Davis, Paramount Pictures, Matt Haig, film adaptation, distribution rights, Studiocanal, Blueprint Pictures, Nora Seed, pre-production, Cannes Film Festival, movie, cinema, film

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