Welcome to Jen Ryland Reviews! Did you read The Silent Patient and The Maidens by Alex Michaelides and are excited about the possibility of movie and/or TV versions of the books? Here’s what we know so far about the Movie and TV Adaptations of The Silent Patient and The Maidens
Movie and TV Adaptations of The Silent Patient and The Maidens
I loved both The Silent Patient and The Maidens and, if you’ve read my post on The World of the Silent Patient and The Maidens, you know that I’m also a fan of the fictional world they are set in, a world steeped in academia, psychology, art, and literature. So of course I am very excited to see this world come to life in adaptations of the book for the movies or TV.
The Silent Patient Movie Adaptation: What We Know So Far
The Silent Patient was released in February 2019.
It seems like they were planning a movie, as opposed to a streaming show or series.
According to the Guardian, Michalides, who has written other screenplays, was going to write the screenplay for The Silent Patient.
That all looks good, right? Well … maybe.
What does it mean that The Silent Patient was optioned?
Feel free to chime in (in comments) if you are more of an expert than I, but an “option” is when an author or content creator is paid an amount (usually by a studio or producer) for the exclusive right to have the option to develop the content creator’s intellectual property into some sort of project.
The contract for the option will specify the length of time of the option. After that time, unless the option is extended, it expires. This Vulture article explains it in more detail.
So an option does NOT always mean that a movie or TV show is forthcoming. Sometimes projects fall apart for a variety of reasons: creative differences, scheduling conflicts, personnel changes, etc.
It’s somewhat concerning that three years after The Silent Patient was optioned, I can’t find anything about a screenplay of The Silent Patient being written, or any evidence about the project moving forward past the option. Also, when I search “Silent Patient” on the Annapurna website, I get no results.
That said, we don’t know the terms of the option and we are coming out of a pandemic.
But, it also looks like Annapurna and Plan B teamed up for a three-year period that ended in 2020.
Then, the pandemic, so it’s possible that derailed the project.
NEW JULY 2026 ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE SILENT PATIENT MOVIE
SEVEN YEARS LATER:
In 2026 Sony Pictures announced that they joined the project alongside Annapurna and Plan B, who remain attached to produce. The project is reportedly being fast-tracked, with a director expected to be attached in the coming months.
Seven years from option to possible production is a long wait even by Hollywood standards, and neither studio has publicly explained the delay. Michaelides made a celebratory post on Instagram, calling it “a long wait.”
Will The Silent Patient Ever Become Make It To the Screen?
For now, the future of The Silent Patient movie seems a bit unclear. But let’s hope that if this option doesn’t pan out, there can be another one. Keep the faith!
Possible Casting for The Silent Patient
While I am neutral in the Brad/Jen/Angelina thing, I feel like talking about Brad Pitt and his production company made me think Angelina would make a pretty good Alicia Berenson. Maybe that’s not possible after their rather contentious divorce, though.
Rooney Mara was pictured holding the book in March 2019, right after it was optioned. In the Daily Mail. That seems to me like it was possibly just a PR thing, like “hire me!”
Rosamund Pike acted in The Devil You Know, a 2013 movie that Alex Michaelides wrote the screenplay for and was pictured on her Instagram holding the book after it hit the bestseller list. Do you see her as an Alicia? Maybe.
peppercookie in comments on my Silent Patient Spoiler Post suggested Jessica Chastain as Alicia and I think that is a fantastic choice!
Who do you picture as Theo and Alicia? Tell me in comments!
The Maidens TV Adaptation: What We Know So Far
The Maidens was released in June 2021.
Shortly before The Maidens was released in June 2021, it was announced that the book had been optioned for television by Miramax Television and Scott Steindorff and Dylan Russell’s Stone Village.
Alex Michaelides’ literary agency said that the book would be made into a “premium TV show” which I am guessing means a show on a premium channel, like HBO?
The tweet above said that a writer was attached to the project, Morwenna Banks. So a screenplay may be in the works. The project is listed on the “About” section of the Miramax website, which also seems like a positive sign.
That’s all I can find.
Again, I am no expert, but I am slightly more optimistic about The Maidens making it to the screen. Things seem to be happening, but again, you really never know.
The option was bought during the pandemic. TV shows seem to be having an easier time during the pandemic than movies made for theaters.
My Casting Ideas for The Maidens
The picture below is a Greek actor (pictured with Alex Michaelides as they are close friends) named Nedie Antoniades. I’d love a Greek actor to play Mariana!
My other two choices for Zoe: Lily James. She is British and has done so many different roles, from period pieces to Mamma Mia to character roles like Pamela Anderson.
My other pick for Mariana is British actress Hayley Atwell. She’s been in Marvel movies and Mission Impossible and I think I’d like to see her in something completely different, like The Maidens!
Now let’s talk Zoe.
Zoe needs to be a good actress who can sell the story lol. In the book, she’s described as having “fair coloring and blue eyes.” I think she needs to appear fragile and vulnerable at first, but have a lot of depth.
I love Sadie Sink from Stranger Things for Zoe.
Or British actress Caitlin Blackwood, who appeared in Dr. Who. This is exactly how I picture Zoe!
And maybe Kiernan Shipka as a Maiden?
If you’d like to pass the time while we wait doing dream casting, list your ideas in the comments!
That’s my update on Movie and TV Adaptations of The Silent Patient and The Maidens as of summer 2022. I will update this post as I find information. If you have any intel, please leave a comment.
I also think that Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) is perfect to play Marianna – that actress is a literal shape-shifter!
Armie Hammer would be cool for Sebastian. I don’t remember how he was described in the book, but that’s more or less how I imagined him while reading.
Zoe is a bit more difficult to imagine, but I like the Sadie Sink suggestions! Can totally see it.
I’m interested what you think about who might play The Professor?
Ooh, I love Tatiana. She is truly amazing. Armie I liked until all those creepy (!) revelations, but maybe that fits? Maybe Eddie Redmayne as Sebastian? He has that boyish quality but with something more interesting underneath.
Who should play Professor Fosca? That is a VERY good question. Jamie Dornan kind of cheesed it up in 50 Shades, but he was really creepy in The Fall with Gillian Anderson. Sebastian Stan has been doing interesting stuff lately. Jonathan Rhys-Myers has a charismatic/intense vibe. Who do you have in mind?
Oh wow, you just named some of my most favorite actors! And yeah, I totally forgot about those shocking news around Armie Hammer, I do my best to avoid such information so I can still enjoy the actor’s performance (like with Johny Depp).
I was also thinking about Eddie Redmayne as Sebastian, he is such an amazing actor and has this mysterios aura around him!
Jamie and Sebastian (Stan), are a bit on the extreme of either being too feminine or too masculine (imo), but I imagine Fosca as something in between, which is the reason why he’s so attractive and charismatic. So I find Jonathan Rhys-Myers to be the perfect choice! <3
I'd also love to see Mads Mikkelsen or Cillian Murphy in either of the movies/TV shows but they are somewhat specific and not everyone appreciates their looks and performance.
One last thing – perhaps Alexandra Daddario as Zoe? She has this youngish appearance but with a mature and mysterious vibe.
I think J R-M has that magnetic quality that Fosca needs! I’m a big fan of Alexandra Daddario and would her to be part of our dream cast. Maybe she can be Theo’s wife, Kathy?
I feel like Zoe needs to come across as young and helpless and tragic then suddenly smack you in the face with the fact with that other side of her (trying to avoid spoilers) so it’s possible that even Sadie comes off as too assertive to play her.
Yes, I agree about Zoe.. perhaps Zoey Deutch (matching first name, hehe), Chloë Grace Moretz or Naomi Scott (she looks more greekish than the rest). Or Zendaya even, we don’t know who Zoe’s father was, so why not? 😛
When you said Zoey Deutch I thought you meant Zoe Kazan who is a little old to play Zoe but is also a chameleon of an actress. Not familiar with Naomi Scott but she’s about to appear in Anatomy of A Scandal which comes out this weekend. Watching it so I can report on it for my Spoiler Post on Anatomy of a Scandal!
Zendaya is a queen and needs to be in the mix somewhere.
For the Silent Patient, I see Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt!
Love that!
Emily Blunt is NOT right for Alice. Sorry!
Definitely see Sarah Rafferty of Suits as Alicia
Ooh, love that pick!
For The Silent Patient, Rooney Mara and Tom Hardy.