There was a brief moment a few years ago when everyone seemed determined to move to the countryside, start fermenting things in jars and discuss capitalism over natural wine. Most of us, mercifully, stopped short of joining a radical collective in rural France. Rachel Kushner's Creation Lake, however, explores exactly that seductive fantasy – and all the paranoia, ideology and existential confusion lurking beneath it. Now, one of the most acclaimed novels of recent years (and shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2024) is heading to the big screen, with Maggie Gyllenhaal set to write, direct and produce the adaptation for Warner Bros. If ever there were a filmmaker suited to untangling a story this intellectually slippery, it's probably her.

What is Rachel Kushner's Creation Lake about?

Published in 2024, Creation Lake follows Sadie Smith, a 34-year-old American operative sent to infiltrate an eco-activist collective in the French countryside. Armed with charm, manipulation and a carefully constructed identity, she enters the group's orbit as part of a covert mission.

But this is Rachel Kushner we're talking about. What begins as a straightforward act of espionage gradually evolves into something far stranger: a meditation on belief, belonging and the stories we tell ourselves about power.

Why is Maggie Gyllenhaal adapting it?

Warner Bros. has tapped Maggie Gyllenhaal to develop the novel as her next directorial project. Following The Lost Daughter, which earned widespread critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations, Gyllenhaal has become known for adapting complex literary material with emotional precision and psychological depth. And now, fresh from her Frankenstein adaptation The Bride!, her interest in morally ambiguous characters and unconventional narratives seems like a particularly compelling fit.

When will it be released?

At this point, there's no clear timeline for release. The film has only just been picked up for production, so will likely be a late-2027 release at the earliest.

Why are some of Creation Lake's accolades?

The novel was shortlisted for the Booker Prize when it was released in 2024, and appeared on numerous year-end best-books lists like the Dublin Literary Award (2026) and the National Book Awards. Critics praised its dark humour, political intelligence and ability to balance philosophical ideas with suspense.

Though in our interview with Kushner ahead of her Adelaide Writer's Festival appearance for Creation Lake in 2025, she was quick to remark:"I don’t write for cultural success or critical accolades… If they allow me to keep making my living writing novels, then that’s wonderful, but they are never the destination."