Universal options film rights to Jojo Moyes' latest

Universal Pictures has optioned the film rights to author Jojo Moyes' forthcoming novel The Giver of Stars (Michael Joseph), with director Ol Parker of the "Mamma Mia!" sequel.

Parker will also adapt the novel, which Penguin Random House will publish in October, Moyes' literary agency Curtis Brown has confirmed to The Bookseller. The Giver of Stars is the latest novel from Moyes, which is based in in Depression-era Kentucky and rooted in true events, following a group of young women who empower a remote mountain community through a travelling library. The author has signed on as executive producer.

“Saving Mr Banks” producer Alison Owen and “Cats” producer Debra Hayward will produce for their Monumental Pictures. Owen and Moyes previously collaborated on the film adaptation of Moyes’ bestselling novel Me Before You (Michael Joseph), which starred Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.

Best known for his “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” franchise, Parker and Universal have strong ties after working together on last summer’s hit “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”

He recently helped adapt the Matt Haig children’s book A Boy Called Christmas (Canongate) for Netflix and Gil Kenan.

Parker is repped by Knight Hall Agency Ltd, UTA and Management 360, and Moyes is repped by Curtis Brown Group Ltd and Bob Bookman Management.