“In a competitive situation, Sony has landed the film rights to The Surrogate Mother, the latest novel from Freida McFadden. McFadden is the author of The Housemaid, whose buzzy adaptation opens in theaters today. In the deal for Surrogate Mother, journalist-turned-screenwriter Anna Klassen is attached to write the adaptation, with Marc Evans Productions on board”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
In the deal for Surrogate Motherjournalist-turned-screenwriter Anna Klassen is attached to write the adaptation, with Marc Evans Productions on board to produce.
Self-published in 2018 by McFadden, and then re-released in paperback by Sourcebooks’ Poisoned Pen Press in August 2025, the novel has re-climbed various bestseller lists in recent months. It debuted at no. 1 on The New York Times bestsellers list, No. 1 on the UK’s Sunday Times list, and No. 1 on Canada’s Globe and Mail. Additionally, it has the highest print run for a backlist print release yet for McFadden.
The story centers on Abby, a woman who, after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that have fallen through, is resigned to the fact that motherhood is not in her future. That is, until her personal assistant Monica makes a generous offer that will make all of Abby’s dreams come true. But it turns out Monica isn’t who she says she is, and the woman now carrying Abby’s child has an unspeakable secret.
The novel has received positive reader and critical reception, with a 4.2 star average out of over 102,000 reviews on Amazon. It was also named by Barnes & Noble as one of the best paperbacks of August 2025.
The acquisition of rights for Surrogate Mother began prior to the Thanksgiving break and involved a ticking clock deadline. Sony came in with what is described as an aggressive offer just before the end of the business day before Thanksgiving Day. The deals of the various players closed in the following weeks, according to sources.
The Surrogate Mother pick up, one of the last deals made in Hollywood before the town shuts down for the holidays, marks a flurry of late in the year acquisitions for Sony. In recent weeks, the studio acquired the rights to the collectible toy brand Labubu, putting Paddington director Paul King to develop a feature, and this week became the majority owner in Peanuts.
McFadden, a pen name, is a physician-turned-author who has been writing since the early 2010s, self-publishing her first novel in 2013 before going on to write prolifically, sometimes releasing two or three books a year. Her big breakthrough was with Housemaidher 2022 novel that became an international bestseller and is now a Lionsgate movie starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Her novels have sold over 35 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 45 languages, making her a massive name in the psychological thriller publishing world.
Former studio exec Evans this year produced Netflix’s The Old Guard 2 starring Charlize Theron as well as monster movie The Gorgewith Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller. His other credits include the 2023 action thriller The Motherwhich starred Jennifer Lopez, and Instant Familywhich starred Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne.
Klassen is becoming the go-to scribe for female-centric adaptations, and is currently writing a big-screen take of The Last Letterthe weepie by Rebecca Yarros. That one sold in November to Amazon in a five-studio bidding war with Imagine Entertainment producing. Klassen adapted the upcoming Anna Todd novel The Last Sunrisewhich is currently in post-production at Amazon, with Maia Reficco and Eva Longoria starring. She is also writing All In Monte Carlobased on the Anna Shilling novel, for Leonine Studios.
McFadden is repped by the Jane Rotrosen Agency, the Cheng Caplan Company, and Goodman Genow. Klassen is repped by WME, Untitled, and Myman Greenspan.