Taika Waititi to Direct Pulitzer Winner ‘James’

Taika Waititi is officially heading down the Mississippi. The New Zealand filmmaker will direct the screen adaptation of Percival Everett’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel James, a bold reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from Jim’s perspective.

Everett confirmed Waititi’s involvement, praising his ability to balance difficult material with humour. For readers who have followed the novel’s meteoric rise, it’s a major book-to-screen moment.

A Pulitzer Winner Heads to Hollywood

Published in 2024 by Doubleday, James revisits Mark Twain’s classic through the eyes of the enslaved man at its heart. In Everett’s version, Jim—who calls himself James—emerges as a sharp, strategic survivor navigating slavery, coded language, and the dangerous journey down the Mississippi River.

The novel swept up major honours, including the 2024 National Book Award and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Critics hailed it as Everett’s breakthrough, blending biting irony with deep humanity.

Universal Pictures acquired the feature film rights in 2024, with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners set to executive-produce. Everett is co-writing the screenplay alongside Waititi, who steps in to direct. The project remains in early development, with no cast or release date announced.

Striking the Right Tone

Adapting James is no small task. Everett has described the original Huckleberry Finn as flawed in its stereotypical depiction of Black characters, even as he admired the bond between Huck and Jim. His novel both confronts and reshapes that legacy.

Waititi’s filmography suggests he won’t shy away from the challenge. Known for mixing sharp humour with painful history, he has built a career on stories that walk a tonal tightrope. Everett believes that instinct is essential to prevent the film from becoming overly earnest, instead preserving the novel’s irony and emotional force.

The adaptation joins a packed slate of literary projects making the leap to screen, from HBO’s wizarding reboot to sweeping fantasy epics. Just this month, HBO confirmed its early 2027 premiere window for its Harry Potter series, while Apple continues expanding its fantasy ambitions after locking in Brandon Sanderson’s universe in a massive Cosmere deal.

For Everett’s readers, the stakes feel different. James is both literary reclamation and razor-sharp satire. With Waititi now firmly attached and Amblin backing the production, the journey from page to screen is officially underway. The next big question is who will step into the role of James—and how this daring retelling will translate to film.