Julia Roberts is set to star in and produce Kill Your Darlings, a gripping new murder mystery directed by James Gray (Ad Astra, The Lost City of Z). The film is based on the upcoming novel by bestselling author Peter Swanson, which is set to be released in June. In a competitive move, Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists swiftly acquired the rights to the project before it could be snapped up by rival studios.
A Story Told in Reverse
Unlike conventional murder mysteries, Kill Your Darlings will unfold backward through time, revealing the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect couple. The story follows Tom and Wendy Graves, who have been married for over 25 years. On the surface, they appear to have it all, but hidden beneath their picture-perfect lives is a terrible crime they committed in their early twenties. As the narrative rewinds, key moments in their marriage — a mysterious death, the birth of their son, the purchase of their home — paint a chilling portrait of a relationship built on deception.
As their dark past begins to unravel, the couple faces a haunting question: is it safer to carry their secrets to the grave, or will betrayal be their undoing?
A Star-Studded Production Team
Roberts will produce alongside Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill through their Red Om Films banner, as well as Tribeca Studios’ Jane Rosenthal and Berry Welsh. The film also marks a reunion between Roberts and Scott Stuber, with whom she collaborated on Netflix’s Leave the World Behind — one of the platform’s most-watched films. Stuber and partner Nick Nesbitt are producing the project under the newly rebooted United Artists label.
A High-Profile Move for United Artists
United Artists, under Stuber’s leadership, is expanding its slate of adult mystery thrillers, including the adaptation of Lauren Oliver’s The Girl in the Lake, which has Scarlett Johansson attached to star. Stuber is also producing Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein for Netflix and the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White.
Meanwhile, director James Gray is preparing for his next project, Paper Tiger, a crime thriller starring Adam Driver, Anne Hathaway, and Jeremy Strong.
A Unique and Gripping Thriller
With a nonlinear narrative, a powerhouse cast, and a suspenseful premise, Kill Your Darlings is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated psychological thrillers of the coming years. Julia Roberts’ return to the genre, combined with James Gray’s signature storytelling, promises an unforgettable cinematic experience.
