Universal Pictures has won a competitive auction for the rights to Terry McMillan’s bestselling novel I Almost Forgot About You, and they’ve quickly set it up as a vehicle for Oscar winner Viola Davis (Fences) and Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee, who has an overall deal with the studio.
McMillan’s novel was picked up by the Jackal Group’s Gail Berman and Joe Earley in May, and they will be producing the film along with Davis and her husband Julius Tennon through their JuVee Productions and Lee’s Blackmailed Productions. Universal VP Sara Scott will oversee with Blackmaled’s Melanie Clark.
In the movie, Davis will play Georgia Young, a divorced optometrist who hasn’t felt a romantic spark in a while, and she decides to change her life by going on a “wild journey of self-discovery,” which includes meeting with former lovers.
McMillan appeared as herself in Lee’s hit comedy Girls Trip, so the two of them already have a connection, while Lee is finishing up the comedy Night School for Universal, which will co-star Girls Trip‘s breakout star Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart.
Davis is repped by CAA with manager Estelle Lasher and Lichter Grossman. Lee is with Paradigm and Del Shaw Moonves, while the Jackal Group is repped by Ziffren Brittenham. McMillan is repped by WME and the Friedrich Agency while Bass is with ICM Partners, The Gotham Group and Jackoway Tyerman.
The Tracking Board has confirmed this story, which was initially reported by Deadline.
Edward Douglas | East Coast Editor