Britney Spears‘ tell-all memoir The Woman In Me is set to become a major motion picture after it was revealed Thursday that Universal has picked up the rights.
The Toxic singer also teased the project via her X account, revealing that she is working with producer Marc Platt, who is responsible for making the Legally Blonde franchise starring Reese Witherspoon a huge success.
There is no word yet on who will play the pop star, but the director behind the upcoming musical Wicked, Jon M. Chu, is also developing the biopic.
‘Excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He’s always made my favorite movies … stay tuned,’ Britney confirmed.
Five-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams – who was spotted with daughter Matilda earlier this week – famously narrated Britney’s book, winning widespread acclaim from fans and critics.
Britney Spears biopic OFFICIALLY in the works – as singer teases working with Oscar-nominated Legally Blonde producer on the ‘secret’ project
Variety confirmed that the film will be a biopic based on her bestselling book.
Per the report, Universal won the rights to the book in a highly competitive auction.
Chu is said to be directing the project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
American film director Chu is best known for helming the smash hit Crazy Rich Asians, and is currently finishing up the two-part movie version of the Broadway musical Wicked.
The book has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States alone.
This information may come as an unwelcome surprise for Justin Timberlake, who features heavily in the memoir, with Britney making a series of bombshell claims about their romance.
The Woman In Me was packed full of juicy revelations reflecting on a life in the spotlight full of ups and downs.
Britney herself also teased the project via her X account on Thursday
Memoir: Britney Spears’ autobiography The Woman In Me is packed with a series of bombshell revelations reflecting on a life in the spotlight full of ups and downs
Legally Blonde producer Marc Platt is on board to produce the movie
The book – released in October last year – charts her popstar career and the many trials and tribulations of her personal life.
Britney, now 41, delved into her romantic relationships, failed marriages, mental health battles and her controversial conservatorship.
It is unclear exactly what parts of the book the biopic will focus on.
However, in the book Britney reveals harrowing details about the secret abortion she underwent, aged 19, claiming she can still remember the ‘excruciating’ pain.
The pop superstar candidly recalls her decision to terminate a pregnancy in 2000 during her relationship with Justin Timberlake, 42.
Britney explains how she was left ‘crying and sobbing’ after choosing to undergo the procedure at home in a desperate bid to keep the abortion completely secret from the public and her own family.
‘It was important that no one find out about the pregnancy or the abortion, which meant doing everything at home,’ she wrote.
Recalling the procedure, Britney describes the physical pain as ‘excruciating’.
‘I kept crying and sobbing until it was all over,’ she states. ‘It took hours, and I don’t remember how it ended, but I do, 20 years later, remember the pain of it, and the fear.’
The singer made it clear that she was aware some might judge her for the decision, but insisted that it was a situation she had never expected to go through.
1. Britney reveals abortion aged 19 after getting pregnant with boyfriend Justin Timberlake (seen in 2002)
6. Britney reveals 13-year conservatorship made her feel like a ‘child robot’ (seen with father Jamie)
She explained that she did not go through with the pregnancy because N*Sync star Justin ‘wasn’t ready’ for the responsibilities of parenthood and thought, at 19, the pair were both too young.
The Toxic hitmaker who dated Justin from 1999-2002, details the moment she had to make the ‘agonizing’ decision after conceiving in late 2000.
She writes: ‘It was a surprise, but for me, it wasn’t a tragedy. I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than I’d anticipated.
‘He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young. I’m sure people will hate me for this, but I agreed not to have the baby.
‘I don’t know if that was the right decision. If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father.’
‘Abortion was something I never could have imagined choosing for myself, but given the circumstances, that is what we did.’
In the book, Britney also reveals she was raised ‘not to get an abortion’ due to religious reasons and what she had learned from her family.
Britney would later welcome sons Sean Preston, 18, and Jayden, 17 with Kevin Federline while Justin shares sons Silas, eight and Phineas, two with wife Jessica Biel.