It Was A Book First

This week, author Virginia Feito joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss how she adapted her 2025 novel “Victorian Psycho” as a screenplay for a new film that’s in theaters this weekend through Bleecker Street. The movie, which premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, stars Maika Monroe (“Longlegs”) as eccentric governess Winifred Notty, who moves into a gothic manor and wreaks havoc on the family. Thomasin McKenzie (“Last Night in Soho”), Ruth Wilson (“The Affair”), Jason Isaacs (“The White Lotus”), Jacobi Jupe (“Hamnet”), and Evie Templeton (“Wednesday”) also star in the film, which blends horror and comedy in a period piece costume drama setting. Virginia, who is a regular columnist and contributor to Vanity Fair Spain, wrote the script for the film and began developing it as she was finishing the novel, workshopping drafts with director Zachary Wigon (“Sanctuary”). Before getting into “Victorian Psycho,” Virginia discusses what happened when her first novel, 2021’s “Mrs. March,” was optioned for a movie with Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) attached before it was published, as well as the status of that book’s adaptation (02:13). Virginia isn’t a trained screenwriter but credits learning the craft by reading scripts of films like “American Beauty” and “Pulp Fiction” as a kid — before even seeing the movies (05:00). Then they turn the conversation toward “Victorian Psycho” for a (mostly) spoiler-free discussion about the film and what it was like to adapt her own book (08:00). Virginia explains some of the stylistic changes she made for adaptation, how the director brought out some unexpected visual flourishes and why she sees the novel and movie “as almost different projects” (17:30). Later, Rudi asks where she got the idea for this story about a Victorian-era governess going mad (20:30) and Sophie asks how scream queen Monroe made the lead character Winifred Notty her own (22:17). Near the end of their chat, they get into some spoilers for "Victorian Psycho” (30:45), including Virginia’s decision to change the ending for the film (31:50) and what change she made in the screenplay that she’d like to go back and change in the book. Finally, Virginia shares her pick for the book she’d love to see get a film adaptation — and that she’d like to get a crack at writing the script for (38:01). Next week, we’re finally discussing “Wildwood,” director Travis Knight and Laika Studios’ stop-motion animation adaptation of the Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis fantasy novel. The hand-made film has a voice cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Angela Bassett and Mahershala Ali. It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays. If you’re enjoying this podcast, the best way to support us to subscribe or follow Follow us on Instagram: @itwasabookfirstpod TikTok: @itwasabookfirst YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast Email: [email protected] Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg Guest: Virginia Feito Editing: Rudi Greenberg Social media: Sophie Vershbow Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto Website: Kevin Pfab

This week, in the second of two new episodes, Sophie and Rudi discuss “Klara and the Sun,” director Taika Waititi's film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel of the same name. The movie, which bombed at the box office, stars Jenna Ortega as a humanoid robot companion (an AF, or Artificial Friend) to a teenager, played by Mia Tharia, and her mom, played by Amy Adams. Natasha Lyonne, Steve Buscemi and Rachel House co-star. After sharing their brief, spoiler-free thoughts on “Klara and the Sun,” which they both did not like (01:30), Sophie discusses her relationship to the book and its author, the Japanese-British Nobel Prize winner Ishiguro, who wrote one of her favorite books of all time, “Never Let Me Go” (03:48). Rudi then shares some background on the film, which was co-written by Waititi and Dahvi Waller (“Mad Men”) and sat on the shelf for nearly two years before it was released (07:44). After a debate over the merits of Waititi as a filmmaker (12:27), they dive deep into the plot of “Klara and the Sun” the movie and its differences from Ishiguro’s novel (15:40). Their chief complaints are that the film completely changes the tone of Ishiguro’s book, favoring a twee, quirky vibe over the novel’s more thoughtful, meditative and dark interiority. They explain why they think the film was unsuccessful commercially and creatively, what they thought of Ortega and Adams’ performances and why the movie could get a second life when it eventually arrives on streaming (likely at Netflix). Finally, Sophie makes her Sophie’s Choice pick for which she liked more: reading Ishiguro or watching “Klara and the Sun” (48:29). If you’ve read this far or listened this far into the episode, you can probably guess where she landed. Next week, we’re discussing “Wildwood,” director Travis Knight and Laika Studios’ stop-motion animation adaptation of The Decemberists songwriter Colin Meloy’s first novel in his “Wildwood Chronicles” series. The hand-made film has a star-studded voice cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Richard E. Grant, Awkwafina, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, Charlie Day, Blythe Danner, Arthur Knight, Angela Bassett and Mahershala Ali. It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays. Follow us on Instagram: @itwasabookfirstpod TikTok: @itwasabookfirst YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast Email: [email protected] Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg Editing: Rudi Greenberg Social media: Sophie Vershbow Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto Website: Kevin Pfab

This week, in the first of two new episodes, Sophie and Rudi discuss “Wicker,” co-directors and co-writers Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s film adaptation of Ursula Wills’ 2008 short story “The Wicker Husband.” The new movie stars Oliva Colman as a fisherwoman who asks a basket weaver, played by Peter Dinklage, to make her a husband out of wicker who looks like Alexander Skarsgard. Elizabeth Debicki, Marli Siu, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Richard E. Grant co-star in this charming and amusing period piece that’s part fable, part romance novel come to life. After sharing brief, spoiler-free thoughts on “Wicker” (01:49), they detail “The Wicker Husband’s” unlikely journey from online publication to proper publication (03:45) and, ultimately, a feature-length film from the husband-and-wife directing duo Fischer and Wilson (06:52). They also explore why a short story like this was the perfect starting point to build a more expansive movie. Then they dive deep into a discussion of the film’s plot and themes (09:48). Throughout their chat, Sophie and Rudi explain why they found “Wicker” so charming, how they were (and weren’t) able to suspend disbelief, what’s so great about the performances from Colman and Skarsgard, and the clever ways “Wicker” packs societal commentary into a weird but thoughtful comedy. Finally, Sophie makes her Sophie’s Choice pick for which she enjoyed more: Reading “The Wicker Husband” or watching “Wicker” (38:08). On Friday, we’re back with another new episode to chat about “Klara and the Sun,” director Taika Waititi's disappointing adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel of the same name. The film stars Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Natasha Lyonne and Mia Tharia. Next week, we’re discussing “Wildwood,” director Travis Knight and Laika Studios’ stop-motion animation adaptation of Colin Meloy’s first novel in his “Wildwood Chronicle” series, which has an all-star voice cast. It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays. Follow us on Instagram: @itwasabookfirstpod TikTok: @itwasabookfirst YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast Email: [email protected] Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg Editing: Rudi Greenberg Social media: Sophie Vershbow Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto Website: Kevin Pfab

This week, writer Ashley Reese (@offbeatorbit) joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss “Carrie,” Prime Video’s new streaming adaptation of Stephen King’s debut horror novel from 1974. Created by writer-director Mike Flanagan (“The Haunting of Hill House”), the eight-episode series modernizes “Carrie” for a Gen Z audience with Summer H. Howell as the titular teenager with telekinetic powers alongside a cast that includes Flanagan regulars Samantha Sloyan (“Midnight Mass”), Matthew Lillard (“The Life of Chuck”) and Rahul Kohli (“The Rise and Fall of the House of Usher”). Before discussing “Carrie,” they introduce their guest, discuss the book she’s writing (00:01:38) and ask Ashley why she picked this show for her appearance on the podcast. (00:04:40). After going around and sharing their spoiler-free thoughts on the series (00:005:30), Sophie gives some history on King’s book, which was rescued from the trash by his wife (00:09:47). Then they discuss other “Carrie” adaptations throughout the years — including Brian De Palma’s Oscar-nominated 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek — before Rudi shares some background on the new series and its creator, Flanagan, a frequent adapter of King (00:15:14). Next, they discuss the new “Carrie” series and its many changes from both the source material and the 1976 film (00:23:15). Throughout the conversation, they hit on Sloyan’s brilliant turn as Carrie’s mom, Margaret White (00:28:28), how a key early scene is reworked with social media in mind (00:36:00), Alison Thornton’s diabolical performance as the show’s main mean girl Chris Hargensen (00:43:07) and Howell’s winning portrayal of Carrie (00:54:38). Later, they explore how this “Carrie” handles the iconic prom scene and why a new addition to the story nearly ruins the series while also setting up a second season (01:02:19). Sophie then makes her Sophie’s Choice pick for which she liked better: reading King’s “Carrie,” watching De Palma’s “Carrie” or streaming Flanagan’s “Carrie.” (01:26:46) Finally, Ashley recommends a classic book that she’d like to see get a new adaptation, which may be happening sooner than she realizes (01:30:35). Next week, we’re discussing two new film adaptations: director Taika Waititi’s take on Kazuo Ishiguro’s AI robot novel “Klara and the Sun,” starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams; and “Wicker,” an expansion of the Ursula Wills short story “The Wicker Husband,” about a fisherwoman with a wicker husband, starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgard and Peter Dinklage. It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays. Follow us on Instagram: @itwasabookfirstpod TikTok: @itwasabookfirst YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast Email: [email protected] Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg Guest: Ashley Reese Editing: Rudi Greenberg Social media: Sophie Vershbow Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto Website: Kevin Pfab

In this special bonus episode, Sophie and Rudi discuss “You Can See Everything,” Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s mind-bending new documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes that follows her and fiancee Billy Evans in the days leading up to her prison sentence. The less said about the movie before you see it the better, so go see it before listening if you haven’t already. Because this is still an adaptation podcast, before discussing “You Can See Everything,” Rudi shares his thoughts on “Whalefall,” a new film adaptation of the 2023 Daniel Kraus survival thriller novel, which stars Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin. (00:01:55) The conversation on A24’s “You Can See Everything” (00:06:20) begins with Sophie sharing why she finds Holmes (already the subject of the HBO documentary “The Inventor” and the Hulu series “The Dropout,” starring Amanda Seyfried) so fascinating. She also explains how reading John Carreyrou’s book about Theranos, “Bad Blood,” unlocked her passion for nonfiction books. (00:08:33) Rudi then talks about why he’s such a big fan of Fielder’s work and gives a primer on his TV shows — “Nathan For You,” “The Rehearsal" and “The Curse” — and shares a quote from a 2017 interview he did with Fielder for The Washington Post. (00:14:19) Then he explains why Oppenheim’s stylistic approach to documentary (as seen in “Renn Faire” and “Spermworld”) made him a perfect collaborator for this project. (00:20:34) From there, Sophie and Rudi get deep into spoilers for “You Can See Everything.” (00:23:34) Throughout their discussion, they explain why they found this movie so thrilling, whether or not this changes their opinion of Holmes, why Fielder and Oppenheim are able to take this film into places you wouldn’t expect, and how the entire experience left them questioning reality and the nature of documentary filmmaking. They also discuss the film’s awards chances, the questions it poses but doesn’t answer, and how “You Can See Everything” explores adaptation in fascinating ways. Next week, we’re talking about “Carrie” writer-director Mike Flanagan’s reimagining of Stephen King’s first horror novel from 1974. The Prime Video series stars Summer H. Howell, Samantha Sloyan and Matthew Lillard. It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays. Follow us on Instagram: @itwasabookfirstpod TikTok: @itwasabookfirst YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast Email: [email protected] Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg Editing: Rudi Greenberg Social media: Sophie Vershbow Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto Website: Kevin Pfab