Sydney Sweeney to Star in and Produce "Custom of the Country" Film Adaptation

Sydney Sweeney will star in and produce a film adaptation of Edith Wharton’s classic novel “Custom of the Country.”

Written and directed by Josie Rourke (“Mary Queen of Scots”), the project stars Sweeney as Undine Spragg, an ambitious Midwest woman who attempts to ascend the social ladder in the turn of the century New York.

Per the official press release, Undine Spragg, “armed with beauty, daring/hustle and sheer force of will and unwavering ambition, battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.”

Casting director Nina Gold is in the process of building the ensemble around Sweeney. Principal photography is expected to begin imminently.

Rourke describes Undine Spragg as the “original dangerous woman” and feels the casting of Sweeney is kismet, adding that it’s as if “Wharton sat down a century ago and wrote the role for her.”

“Edith Wharton’s character has forever fascinated, seduced and infuriated readers. ‘The Custom of the Country’ was Wharton’s great American novel and Undine Spragg sweeps across America and through Europe at top speed, during a time of immense economic and social change,” Rourke said in a statement. “The book whistles with modernity and as I was writing this adaptation, Sydney Sweeney lived in my head as this iconic character — it’s as if Wharton sat down a century ago and wrote the role for her.”

Filmmaker Sofia Coppola had planned in 2020 to turn Wharton’s novel into a miniseries starring Florence Pugh, but the project, set at Apple, never came to fruition.

Charles Finch, Sweeney, Alison Owen of Monumental Pictures and StudioCanal will produce.

StudioCanal will fully finance “Custom of the Country” and release the film theatrically in all its territories (the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Benelux) as well as launch worldwide sales at EFM.

“I’ve worked for many years to bring ‘Custom of the Country’ to the screen,” Finch said. “I’m delighted with Josie’s adaptation, and the power, passion and fun that Sydney will bring to the role.”

"Custom of the Country" reunites Sweeney with StudioCanal, which released her latest box office hit “The Housemaid” in Australia and New Zealand.

Lionsgate backed the film adaptation of Freida McFadden’s hit thriller novel, which has earned a stellar $250 million worldwide to date.

“We are thrilled to be involved in bringing ‘Custom of the Country’ to the big screen, led by Josie Rourke’s vision to carry Edith Wharton’s sharp and timeless observations into a new cinematic era,” said Anna Marsh, CEO of StudioCanal. “We are delighted to collaborate once again with the immensely talented Sydney Sweeney as the formidable Undine Spragg.”