Netflix Teaming with Forest Whitaker to Adapt Award-Winning Novel HELLO, UNIVERSE

Netflix is teaming up with Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi to produce the film adaptation of Erin Entrada Kelly’s Newbery Award-winning novel, Hello, Universe. The screenplay will be adapted by Michael Golamco. Here’s the synopsis for the story as reported by Deadline:

When a bully’s antics land a timid boy in the bottom of a well, his self-proclaimed psychic friend and unknowing crush team up to find him. The novel is a funny, poignant neighborhood story about unexpected friendships. Told from four intertwining points of view — two boys and two girls — the novel celebrates bravery, being different, and finding your inner bayani (hero). It was published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, and won the 2018 Newbery.

I love teen dramas that keep it real. The teen years are so complex and can wreak havoc on every emotion. It’s nice to see stories from different perspectives that tell stories across the spectrum. It sounds like this is a great story that I’ll have to add to my reading list.

Have you read the book? If so, who would you like to see cast?