Universal is framing this as a match made in creative heaven — Liz Meriwether's comedic chops and emotional depth (see "Dying for Sex") make her uniquely qualified to handle Britney's story with both humor and heart. The studio wants audiences to know this won't be a salacious takedown but rather a nuanced portrait of resilience.
Industry insiders are whispering that several writers passed on this project before Meriwether signed on, reportedly spooked by the legal landmines surrounding Britney's life. One producer told me off-record that 'the memoir rights were easy — it's everything AFTER the book that's complicated.' Translation: there's more story to tell, and not all of it belongs to Britney.
Liz Meriwether created and wrote "New Girl" (2011-2018) and co-created "Dying for Sex" (2025). The biopic is based on Spears' memoir "The Woman in Me," released October 2023. Director Jon M. Chu directed "In the Heights" (2021) and "Crazy Rich Asians" (2018). Producer Marc Platt's credits include "La La Land" and "Leger."
Liz Meriwether better be ready for the pressure of a lifetime — Britney's stans don't forgive, and they definitely don't forget. If this script sanitizes anything from "The Woman in Me," it's going to be a disaster.
Universal Pictures has finally locked in its screenwriter for the Britney Spears biopic, and they've gone with someone whose résumé is equal parts impressive and... complicated. Liz Meriwether, creator of the beloved sitcom "New Girl" and co-creator of the buzzed-about limited series "Dying for Sex," will pen the screenplay for the as-yet-untitled film, Variety reported Monday. The project has been in development for over a year now, with "In the Heights" director Jon M.
Chu attached to helm and Marc Platt — the producer behind "La La Land" and "Wicked" — handling production duties. But until this week, no screenwriter had officially signed on to translate Spears' jaw-dropping memoir "The Woman in Me" into a feature film. The book, released in October 2023, sold millions of copies and revealed for the first time in Britney's own words the horrors she endured during her 13-year conservatorship — including being forced against her will to keep an IUD, being drugged, and being prevented from remarrying.
So why Meriwether? The choice is curious when you consider that "New Girl" was a lighthearted ensemble comedy about roommates in Los Angeles. That's... not exactly the same energy as documenting one of pop culture's most devastating true stories.
However, sources close to the production say that's precisely why she got the job — Universal wants this biopic to have warmth and humor alongside the darkness. "Dying for Sex," which Meriwether co-created with host Michelle K. Boyer, explored female sexuality through a cancer patient's journey with brutal honesty and unexpected laughs.
That tonal balance appears to be exactly what the studio is chasing. But here's where it gets spicy, and where my tea-rex instincts kick in. Insiders tell me multiple writers were approached before Meriwether came aboard — and some passed.
The reasons vary, but one industry source suggested that adapting "The Woman in Me" comes with a minefield of legal complications beyond just getting the rights to Spears' story. There are other people mentioned in those pages who might not be thrilled about how they're portrayed on screen. As my source put it: 'The memoir was Britney's story.
A movie is everyone else's story too.' That tension is going to be fascinating to watch unfold. The conservatorship saga involved Britney's father Jamie Spears, court-appointed lawyer Samuel Ingham, and a rotating cast of managers and handlers — many of whom are still alive and could theoretically have legal grounds to object to how they're depicted. Whether Universal has navigated those waters or is sailing into a storm remains to be seen.
What IS certain: Britney stans have been waiting for this movie since before she was even free from conservatorship, and they'll be watching every frame like hawks. Meriwether better bring receipts.
