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John August Adapting 'How I Became a Famous Novelist'

by Alex Billington
August 4, 2009

A great announcement tonight from one of the most beloved screenwriters in Hollywood. John August has optioned Steve Hely's novel "How I Became a Famous Novelist" and will adapt and potentially direct the project. August, who is finishing up screenplays for Preacher and Dark Shadows, also previously wrote Go, Charlie's Angels, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Corpse Bride. He broke into directing in 2007 with The Nines but hasn't slated any other directorial projects since. While he does have a lot of good scripts in the works, I'm excited to see him take on a more personal project like this once again!

Description from Amazon: "Biting, hilarious and improbably affectionate, comedy writer Hely's debut skewers the literary world with a sendup of the quest to write the Great American Novel. Words are Pete Tarslaw's thing, and after watching a bestselling novelist prattle on about the truth, his calling, and other ridiculous ideas on TV, Pete concludes that the sole way to save face at his ex-girlfriend's upcoming wedding is to become a famous novelist himself." August himself goes on to explain that, "like Go, it's about thinking you have the system all figured out, realizing you don't, then faking it." Sounds like it could be pretty fun.

No word on how soon we'll see this "Famous Novelist" adaptation hit the big screen, but I hope it's August's next big gig. Even though I didn't like The Nines that much, I'm excited to see him get back behind the lens.

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