Neon has announced that it acquired distribution rights to a modern retelling of Virginia Woolf’s classic, “Mrs. Dalloway.”
Called “Clarissa,” after the first name of the titular character, the screenplay was written by Nigerian filmmaker Chuko Esiri. He and his twin brother, Arie Esiri, are set to direct the film.
Set to star are Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa, David Oyelowo as Peter, and India Amarteifio and Toheeb Jimoh as younger versions of Clarissa and Peter. Ayo Edebiri is also set to star in an as-yet unrevealed role.
Chuko Esiri told the blog 16/16 that principal photography began on the project in August 2025 in Nigeria.
So far, there have been few details about the modern reimagining of the story. The 1925 novel is one of the cornerstones of British modernism, hailed by critics for Woolf’s command of the stream of consciousness style of narration.
The novel interweaves multiple plot lines, primarily focusing on Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares to host a party. She is visited that morning by a former love interest, Peter Walsh. In her youth, she chose not to marry Peter and instead married the more steady, reliable Richard Dalloway.
She’s plagued by memories of youth and the choices she made for her life over the years—including denying herself a relationship with her friend Sally.
Meanwhile, Septimus Smith a veteran of World War I, battles with post-traumatic stress disorder, then called shell shock. He, too, battles with his memories of war and the death of his friend and potential love interest, Evans.
As Clarissa’s party gets underway, both her and Septimus’ lives collide in a tragic and unexpected way.
Filmmaker Marleen Gorris directed a more faithful adaptation of “Mrs. Dalloway” in 1997, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Natascha McElhone as the older and younger Clarissa, and Michael Kitchen and Alan Cox as Peter. Rupert Graves played Septimus and Lena Headey was a young Sally.
Author Michael Cunningham was inspired by “Mrs. Dalloway” with his 1998 novel “The Hours.” It was adapted in 2002 by Stephen Daldry. It also interweaves three stories—that of Woolf (Nicole Kidman) as she writes the original novel; a troubled 1950s housewife (Julianne Moore) reading the novel; and a woman played by Meryl Streep preparing a celebration in 2001 for her poet friend (Ed Harris) ill with AIDS.
About the writer
Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened. Virginia Woolf is her favorite author of all time, and an independent study in college about the adaptations of Woolf’s works was a major inspiration for this site.
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