Sex and John Madden

Enough of Shakespeare and corsets, John Madden is banking in on the teenage dramedy trend that’s been sweeping the box offices.  The Oscar-nominated, Shakespeare in Love director has signed on to helm the modern-day teen angst movie Sex and Sylvia Plath. The pic will be produced by WAM Films, the US-based arm of Alain Chabat’s Chez Wam in France.

Sex and Sylvia Plath will follow a death-obsessed 16-year-old who loses her virginity to a teenager- who she discovers her mother is having an affair with.  The pic was penned by Jennifer O’Kieffe, whose script was named one of the winners of the 52nd annual Samuel Goldwyn writing awards. The script also made last year’s Black List, the yearly compilation of the best unproduced screenplays. This month, O’Kieffe was hired for Universal Pictures’ U.S remake of the Swedish family picture called Island of Lost Souls. 

Madden’s most recent pic, Proof, also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, was released three years ago, so Madden is about due for another one. A production date has yet to be set for Sex and Sylvia Plath.