Stacey Abrams’ Rules of Engagement is headed to the big screen, Deadline reports.
The romantic thriller novel by the Georgia politician, written under her pen name Selena Montgomery, was originally published in 2001 and reissued in 2022 by Berkley. The book tells the story of Dr. Raleigh Foster, a chemist who works for a multinational intelligence agency and infiltrates a terrorist organization. A critic for Kirkus called the novel “a slow-burn romantic suspense story [that] eventually finds its footing.”
The screenplay for the film will be written by Meredith Dawson, who previously wrote for the miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral. Among the movie’s producers will be Abrams and actor Kerry Washington (Scandal, Little Fires Everywhere).
As of 2021, two television projects based on Abrams’ books were in development: a series adaptation of her novel While Justice Sleeps and another series based on her novel Never Tell.
Screenwriter Dawson shared news of the Rules of Engagement adaptation on Instagram in a post referencing Abrams’ voting advocacy. “HOLY MOLY I feel very honored and privileged to be adapting Stacey’s novel!!!!!” she wrote. “She is as much of an unstoppable force in person as she is on the page. WOW DO DREAMS COME TRUE????…This is gonna be cool and fun and remember…When there is [a] long wait to see this movie in theaters: if you’re in line, stay in line.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
