EXCLUSIVE: Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum will produce a feature film adaptation of Cult of Love, Leslye Headland‘s dark comedy play that opened to excellent reviews on Broadway in December. The film is currently in development under the Ferrell-Elbaum banner Gloria Sanchez Productions, with the playwright set to adapt the screenplay and direct.
Headland, who has served as writer, director and executive producer of Star Wars: The Acolyte for the Disney+ streaming platform and Russian Doll for Netflix, made her Broadway debut with the limited engagement Second Stage Theater production of Cult of Love. The Broadway staging reunited Headland with the nonprofit theater that had produced her earlier Off Broadway plays Bachelorette and The Layover.
Cult of Love has its origins in Headland’s “Seven Deadly Plays” series for the Los Angeles-based IAMA Theatre Company. First staged at IAMA in 2018, Cult of Love examines the sin of pridefulness as evidenced in the Christmas gathering of a tight-knit, but fast unraveling, Christian household. Secrets are revealed, prodigals return, intolerances surface and family bonds are tested. Through it all, the siblings and parents come together in rousing holiday music jams.
Casting and additional details about the film adaptation are yet to be announced.
The Broadway staging, which was directed by Trip Cullman, began previews on November 20, 2024, opened on December 12 and ended its limited run February 2. The cast featured Zachary Quinto, Mare Winningham, Shailene Woodley, Molly Bernard, Roberta Colindrez, Barbie Ferreira, Rebecca Henderson, Christopher Lowell, David Rasche and Christopher Sears.
Ferrell and Elbaum are frequent collaborators of Headland, having previously produced the film adaptation of Headland’s Bachelorette which starred Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan and Sleeping with Other People starring Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie.
“To be making Cult of Love with Will and Jessica – two producers who champion bold, unapologetic storytelling – is a true creative homecoming,” said Headland in a statement. “This story has lived in my bones for years, and I can’t wait to bring it to the screen with partners who embrace its chaos and heart.”
Said Elbaum, “Leslye’s voice is singular – darkly funny, wildly insightful, and deeply human. We couldn’t be more excited to help bring Cult of Love to a wider audience.”
