Ryan Reynolds is set to co-star in Netflix's upcoming live-action adaptation of the beloved children's book series, "Eloise". The film will be directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino, known for her work on "Gilmore Girls" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel". Newcomer Mae Schenk will play the titular role of Eloise, a mischievous young girl who lives at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Reynolds, who hasn't been in a movie since 2024's "Deadpool & Wolverine," will play an original villain created for the film. The movie is not a direct adaptation but rather a "wholly original adventure" based on the book series by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. Specific plot details are currently under wraps.
Sherman-Palladino is co-writing the script with Hannah Marks ("After Everything") and Linda Woolverton ("Maleficent"). This project marks Sherman-Palladino's feature film directorial debut, after directing multiple episodes of "Gilmore Girls" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel".
"Eloise" follows a young girl living on the 'tippy-top floor' of New York City's iconic Plaza Hotel. The books, first published in 1955, spawned four sequels and have become a cherished staple in bookstores and libraries. The character has been previously adapted into two made-for-television movies that aired on ABC in 2003, "Eloise at the Plaza" and "Eloise at Christmastime".
Netflix Head of Feature Animation and Family Film, Hannah Minghella, expressed excitement about the project, stating, "Eloise has been beloved for generations, from when she was first published in the 1950s through to today, when no family trip to New York City is complete without a stop at The Plaza". She added, "It's an honor to reintroduce this cherished character to the world with two people who share her signature mischief and charm—Amy Sherman-Palladino and Ryan Reynolds—in this bold, hilarious, and heartfelt new family film".
Reynolds will also serve as executive producer through his company, Maximum Effort. Production is slated to begin later this month in London.
The rights to "Eloise" were acquired by MRC in 2019, and they will oversee production in collaboration with the Thompson estate, Knight, and Simon & Schuster, the book series' publisher. Handmade Films will also be involved in the film's production.
Netflix is looking to add another potential hit to its family film lineup with "Eloise". The streamer is currently enjoying the success of "KPop Demon Hunters" and has the upcoming animated film, "In Your Dreams," set for release on November 14, 2025.
