Julia Roberts to star in Amazon Chris Cleave adaptation

Julia Roberts is set to star in an Amazon Studios adaptation of Chris Cleave’s 2008 novel The Other Hand (Sceptre), known in the US as Little Bee.

According to Deadline, Roberts will play the character Sarah O’ Rourke, a Surrey-born magazine editor, who in the book features in a dual narrative with Nigerian refugee Little Bee. The two characters meet during the oil conflict in the Niger Delta and are re-united in England several years later.

The script adaptation is being written by Kathleen Robertson, who also adapted The Possibilities, Kaui Hart Hemmings’ follow up novel to The Descendents (Vintage), and will be developed at Amazon Studios.

Roberts will also serve as a producer with Red Om Films for the project.