If you tend to keep up with the best in short stories from the New Yorker, you will already be familiar with author Kristen Roupenian. Back in late 2017, her now viral short story, Cat Person, completely blew up the internet; quickly becoming the magazine's most downloaded fiction of that year. So, what made this thrilling tale more of a hit than any other? A common and relatable storyline of course – the absolute terrors of the modern dating world. Now, after almost four years since it first dropped, Cat Person is being turned into a film; and given that 'adaptation' is the hot term of the year, we're hardly surprised.
Described as a psychological thriller with a Promising Young Woman air about it; the film company behind the project, Studiocanal, has certainly not skimped when it comes to casting. Fans of the hit comedy-drama television show, Succession will recognise actor Nicholas Braun (who is also set to star in the upcoming Zola film); who will star alongside British actor Emilia Jones.
For those who haven't read the original story, let us give a quick synopsis. Roupenian's tale focuses on 20-year-old college student Margot, and the brief and uncomfortable relationship she has with an older man, Robert; who frequently visits the cinema where she works. We can only assume that Braun will take on the role of Robert and Jones as Margot. Susanna Fogel, the director at the helm of The Flight Attendant will once again be resuming her role for Cat Person; with Michelle Ashford on board for the script.
“Using Kristen’s excruciatingly well-observed short story about the horrors of dating as the jumping off point for an actual genre film, Cat Person will explore the hellscape of modern romance,” says Fogel (via Deadline). “And the idea that we have all been the villain in someone else’s story, and the victim in others.”
If you're hanging to find out how the story ends, you can still read Roupenian's short story ahead of the film to come.
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