EXCLUSIVE: Miguel Arteta, the Independent Spirit Award winner behind titles like Beatriz at Dinner and Chuck & Buck, has found his next project in Sleep Toward Heaven, a feature adaptation of the bestselling debut novel by Amanda Eyre Ward, which he’ll helm as writer-director.
Published in 2003, Sleep Toward Heaven tells the story of three disparate women, whose lives collide in the aftermath of a crime during a brutal Texas summer. The critically acclaimed novel launched Ward’s career as a New York Times bestseller, which has seen her novels land on Reese’s Book Club and be optioned by wiip, Fox Searchlight and Sandra Bullock.
Said Arteta, “Amanda’s novel feels as resonant and necessary as it did when it was first published – maybe even more so, as we long to find humanity and connection in a fractured world. I wanted to adapt the novel myself because I fell in love with these three unforgettable lead characters, who overcome tragedy through their unexpected friendship and profound glimmers of hope.”
Mary Jane Skalski of Echo Lake Entertainment and Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith will produce Sleep Toward Heaven, with Ward executive producing.
A frequent collaborator of The White Lotus‘ Mike White, Arteta has directed some of the most critically acclaimed indies of the past 25 years, including The Good Girl, written by White and starring Jennifer Aniston; Beatriz at Dinner starring Salma Hayek; and the Sundance darling Chuck & Buck, written by and starring White.
Arteta’s credits also include Netflix’s hit comedy Yes Day starring Jennifer Garner, Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera, Cedar Rapids starring Ed Helms, and DGA-nominated episodes of Succession, Six Feet Under, Enlightened, Poker Face and The Morning Show. He’s represented by UTA, Entertainment 360 and Linda Lichter.
Ward is repped by Michelle Tessler of Tessler Literary Agency and WME; Smith by manager Jenna Block and attorney Karl Austen.
