Florence Pugh Stars in Garth Davis's 'The Midnight Library' Adaptation, Filming in London and the Cotswolds in Early 2027

One of the most anticipated literary adaptations in recent memory is moving toward production, and the crew opportunities attached to it are substantial. 'The Midnight Library,' based on Matt Haig's global bestselling 2020 novel, is heading into pre-production with principal photography scheduled to begin in early 2027 across London, the Cotswolds, and additional European locations. With Florence Pugh starring and producing, Garth Davis directing, and both Studiocanal and Paramount Pictures behind it, this is a high-profile, well-financed feature that will require a large and experienced crew across multiple departments. Pre-production is expected to ramp up in autumn 2026, which means the window for department heads and senior crew to begin conversations with the production is approaching faster than the start date might suggest.

Garth Davis is an inspired choice to shepherd this material. The Australian filmmaker announced himself to the world with 'Lion' in 2016, the Dev Patel-led drama that earned six Academy Award nominations and became a quiet global phenomenon. He followed that with 'Mary Magdalene' in 2018, a film that further demonstrated his gift for intimate, spiritually textured storytelling and his ability to coax emotionally grounded performances from his cast. 'The Midnight Library' sits squarely in his wheelhouse: a story that is fantastical in its premise but deeply human in its emotional core. The screenplay was written by Laura Wade, whose stage and screen work includes the sharp social satire of 'Posh' (adapted for film as 'The Riot Club'), and Nick Payne, the playwright behind 'Constellations,' a work that also explores parallel lives and alternate realities. That Payne is attached here is particularly fitting, and his collaboration with Wade suggests a script with real literary ambition behind it. Matt Haig, the novel's author, serves as executive producer, a meaningful creative safeguard that signals the adaptation is being handled with care rather than convenience.

Florence Pugh needs little introduction to anyone working in the industry right now. Fresh off an extraordinary run that includes 'Midsommar,' 'Little Women,' 'Don't Worry Darling,' and her Oscar-nominated turn in 'Little Women,' plus her expanded presence in the Marvel universe, Pugh is one of the most in-demand actors of her generation. Her decision to also produce 'The Midnight Library' through her own shingle alongside the established Blueprint Pictures team signals genuine personal investment in the project. Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin of Blueprint Pictures are among the most respected producers working in British film today, with a track record that includes the entire 'In Bruges' and 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' canon under Martin McDonagh. Anita Overland, a seasoned British producer with deep roots in prestige drama, rounds out the producing team. The executive producer lineup includes Studiocanal's Anna Marsh and Ron Halpern, along with Dan MacRae, Ben Knight, and Diarmuid McKeown.

The financial and distribution framework here is as solid as it gets for a British-backed prestige feature. Studiocanal, the European production and distribution powerhouse owned by Canal+ Group, is financing the project, bringing with it both the resources and the international distribution infrastructure to back a film of this ambition. Paramount Pictures acquired North American distribution rights for a reported $36 million at the 2026 Cannes Film Market, a figure that speaks clearly to the commercial confidence surrounding the project. That kind of acquisition price, combined with Pugh's marquee status, places this firmly in the upper tier of prestige studio releases rather than the specialty arthouse lane. Crew should read this as a well-capitalized union production with real resources behind it.

The production will base primarily in and around London, with location work extending into the Cotswolds and other parts of Europe. London remains one of the world's premier production hubs, with world-class stage facilities at Pinewood, Leavesden, and Shepperton Studios all within reach, and a deep local crew base across every department. The Cotswolds will almost certainly be used to evoke the pastoral, dreamlike alternate-life sequences that are central to the novel's structure, and those locations will put the production design, locations, and camera departments to work in genuinely beautiful but logistically demanding countryside. Productions of this scale shooting in England typically qualify for the UK's High-End Television and Film Tax Relief, though the specifics depend on the final production structure. Given the Blueprint Pictures and Studiocanal involvement, a UK-based crew will be central to the hire, though American department heads may follow Pugh's team in from the States.

In terms of crew needs, this production has the hallmarks of a large and demanding art department build. The premise, involving a liminal library existing outside of time where the protagonist steps in and out of alternate versions of her life, will require the kind of inventive, large-scale production design that blends the fantastical with the grounded. Costume will face a similar challenge, dressing Nora Seed across multiple lives, eras, and worlds. A strong VFX pipeline is also a reasonable expectation given the supernatural elements of the story. Beyond those headline departments, the locations work across the English countryside and potentially multiple European countries will require a well-staffed and experienced locations team. Given the prestige pedigree of everyone involved, this is the kind of project where every department will be aiming for awards-level work.

With pre-production formally kicking off in autumn 2026 and cameras expected to roll in January 2027, there is still meaningful runway to get in front of the right people, but that runway shortens quickly once a production of this scale starts building out its departments. ProductionList.com carries the full listing for 'The Midnight Library,' including production contacts, the complete crew list as it builds out, and any updates to the schedule and office locations. If this is the kind of project you want to be part of, now is the time to make the call, not after cameras roll.

Click here for production info or to contact producers