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Britney Spears memoir to become musical biopic written by Liz Meriwether
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Universal has reportedly hired Liz Meriwether, the creator of the sitcom New Girl, to write a musical biopic based on Britney Spears' 2023 memoir The Woman In Me, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The project reunites much of the creative team behind the studio's hit Wicked films, with Jon M. Chu said to be directing and Marc Platt producing, though Universal has not made an official announcement or responded to requests for comment.
Meriwether's credits include the films No Strings Attached and the television series Single Parents, Bless This Mess, The Dropout and Dying For Sex. Spears' memoir, which sold millions of copies worldwide and whose Michelle Williams-narrated audiobook became the fastest-selling in Simon & Schuster's history, traces her rise to fame, her relationship with her family, her romance with Justin Timberlake and the mental health struggles that led to a 13-year conservatorship she long fought. The report comes as studios seek fresh music stories, with the Michael Jackson biopic Michael recently becoming the top-grossing musician biopic of all time at more than $978 million, and a Snoop Dogg biopic now in production.
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In short
- Liz Meriwether reportedly tapped to write a Britney Spears biopic.
- Based on her 2023 memoir The Woman In Me.
- Wicked's Jon M. Chu and Marc Platt reportedly attached.
How this story developed
- 4 months ago Subsequent coverage reaffirmed Meriwether's hiring and the Wicked reunion while trimming detail, dropping her four-time Emmy nomination and the Michael biopic's $978 million tally, and continued to note that Universal had yet to comment officially on the Chu-directed project.
- 4 months ago The Hollywood Reporter named Liz Meriwether, the New Girl creator, as the writer Universal has enlisted to turn Britney Spears's 2023 memoir The Woman In Me into a big-screen musical, reuniting the studio with its Wicked team, with Jon M. Chu tipped to direct and Marc Platt to produce despite no formal confirmation.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Britney Spears' memoir addresses profoundly important themes around mental health, family dynamics, legal control and personal autonomy that deserve wide exposure beyond readers. With an accomplished creative team known for character-driven storytelling and the validated success of her own written account, a musical biopic could meaningfully educate audiences about conservatorship and build empathy for her experience. Her story has already proven its cultural resonance and commercial viability; adapting it for film extends her control over the narrative and amplifies the message she chose to share.
The case against
Translating such significant personal trauma—particularly the loss of agency during her conservatorship and serious mental health struggles—into entertainment format risks trivialising profound experiences. A studio production's commercial imperatives may pressure dramatisation over authenticity, potentially distorting actual events for narrative purposes. The concern is not that the story is unworthy, but rather that even well-intentioned adaptations can sensationalise sensitive subjects and ultimately transform private suffering into consumable spectacle.
Explained simply
Universal Pictures is reportedly developing a musical film based on Britney Spears' life, drawn from her 2023 memoir The Woman In Me. Liz Meriwether, best known for creating the sitcom New Girl, has been brought on to write the screenplay, and several people behind Universal's recent Wicked films are said to be involved, including director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt.
Spears is one of the biggest pop stars of the past three decades, and her memoir covered her rise to fame, her family relationships, her romance with Justin Timberlake, and the mental health struggles that led to a 13-year conservatorship controlling her personal and financial affairs, which she spent years trying to end. The book was a huge commercial success, and its audiobook, narrated by actress Michelle Williams, broke sales records for its publisher.
The project reflects a wider trend of studios turning musicians' life stories into films, following the success of biopics about stars such as Michael Jackson, with a Snoop Dogg film also currently in production. No official confirmation has yet come from Universal or Spears herself.
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Originally published by Billboard as “‘New Girl’ Creator Liz Meriwether Tapped to Write Britney Spears Biopic”.