Rachel Yoder reportedly hadn’t written for two years before she started her debut novel. After having a baby, she penned her first book fuelled by anger at the changes that were happening in her life, both personally and professionally.
That debut novel was Nightbitch, which was released to rapturous acclaim in 2021. It's not for the faint of heart: the magical realism title follows a stay-at-home mother who discovers she is transforming into a dog. Its dark musings on motherhood and identity saw it widely praised, with one reviewer describing the tome as “a stunning modern feminist fable”.
Now, Nightbitch is coming to the big screen, directed by Marielle Heller, who also directed Can You Ever Forgive Me, starring Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant, as well as episodes of the Netflix hit, The Queen’s Gambit.
Speaking about the novel, Heller said the unique premise made her “feel seen”.
Here’s everything you need to know about Nightbitch’s film adaptation.
Who has been cast in Nightbitch?
Amy Adams will star as the film’s lead, in what will undoubtedly be a memorable performance from her.
Adams agreed to take the role after reading Yoder’s novel. “It was so unique and otherworldly, and like nothing I’d read before,” she said in a recent interview. “The thing I really attached to is this idea of loss of identity. It felt so organic, because there’s many a day where I look at myself and I’m like, ‘Well, that’s new. What’s that?’ It just sort of became an extension of the way our bodies evolve as we go through different metamorphoses, be it childbirth or ageing.”
Elsewhere, Scoot McNairy, who has previously starred in Argo, 12 Years a Slave and Gone Girl, among others, will star as her husband.
The additional cast includes Zoe Chao, Mary Holland, Jessica Harper, Kerry O'Malley and Ella Thomas.
What will Nightbitch be about?
The film's official synopsis reads: “Nightbitch tells the story of a woman thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs, who slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood, as she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a canine.”
Is there a trailer for Nightbitch?
The film’s official trailer has been released to coincide with the start of the Toronto International Film Festival (watch above).
When will Nightbitch be released?
Nightbitch is slated for release in the US on 6 December 2024. No official UK release has been confirmed, but it’s likely to be around the same time.
