Dolly Parton Cast As The Lead In Adaptation For Best-Selling Novel
For those who don't know Dolly Parton is a living legend of country music and a bonafide acting star in her own right
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Dolly Parton is returning to the big screen! In order to do so, Parton is forming what could only be described as a storytelling superteam. Per Deadline, the country legend is teaming up with Reese Witherspoon’s company, Hello Sunshine, to star and produce in the adaptation of the novel Run, Rose, Run, which Parton co-wrote with James Patterson.
For those who don’t know Dolly Parton is a living legend of country music and a bonafide acting star in her own right, best known for her appearances in 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Her novel Run, Rose, Run centres on an aspiring country singer who moves to Nashville to chase her musical dreams, all the while striving to escape a traumatic past. To bring the novel to life, Parton enlisted the help of co-author James Patterson, who just so happens to be one of the most prolific storytellers of all time. Patterson, best known for his iconic Alex Cross series of thriller novels is not only one of the highest-paid authors of all time but is also one of the highest-ranked authors in terms of New York Times bestsellers.
It’s no surprise then that Dolly Parton and James Patterson had a hit with Run, Rose, Run. Published on March 7th, the novel debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. As well as this, Parton flexed her creative muscles by releasing an accompanying album to the book on March 4th. The album debuted at number one on the Current Country Albums, American/Folk and Bluegrass charts. This leaves little wonder as to why the book has been snapped up by Hello Sunshine, the production company founded by none other than Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon had this to say on the exciting collaboration: “Growing up in Nashville, I’ve loved Dolly since the moment I heard her magical voice and saw her luminous personality shine onstage-My admiration for her grew to even greater heights when reading ‘Run, Rose, Run,’ a gripping and heartbreaking book I couldn’t put down. I couldn’t feel more honoured to be working alongside her and James to bring this remarkable story to the screen.”
Not to be outdone, Dolly Parton is quoted bouncing that praise right back at Witherspoon, saying; “I’m proud, excited and honoured to be working with my good friend Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine on the movie of Run, Rose, Run from the novel I co-wrote with James Patterson. James and I love Reese and look forward to working with her and her wonderful team.” It would appear that all parties involved are delighted to be a part of Run, Rose, Run and its film adaptation. James Patterson added that it’s been “a joy” working with Dolly Parton and is sure that the whole team “will produce a great movie.” James Patterson will also be on board as a producer of the movie, along with Hello Sunshine’s President of Film and Television, Lauren Neustadter and the aforementioned Reese Witherspoon. Ashley Strumwasser serves as an executive producer.
For James Patterson, having a novel adapted for either the small or big screen is nothing new. Countless adaptations have been made of his work, such as the Jeffrey Dean Morgan starring The Postcard Killings or the 2001 adaptation of Along Came a Spider, starring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross. However, for Dolly Parton, Run, Rose, Run is her first novel, thus marking this her first novel adapted for a feature film. Not a bad hit rate thus far then. For Hello Sunshine, Run, Rose, Run will come in the wake of several upcoming projects that include another novel adaptation in Where the Crawdads Sing and Your Place or Mine, starring Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher.
