Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny’s Bestseller “State of Terror” Being Adapted for the Big Screen

Films

Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny’s Bestseller “State of Terror” Being Adapted for the Big Screen

Hillary Clinton is making her way to the big screen — via her work as an author. According to a press release, the entertainment company Madison Wells (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) has acquired “State of Terror,” the bestselling political thriller the former First Lady and Secretary of State wrote with novelist Louise Penny, with plans to develop it as a film.

Published in October, “State of Terror” “follows novice Secretary of State Ellen Adams, who is unexpectedly brought into the administration by a newly-elected President, her political and personal adversary,” the source teases. “Events soon erupt that sweep her into a world of global intrigue and diplomacy where the stakes could not be higher and the potential consequences, both personal and global, could not be greater.”

Clinton and Penny will executive produce and consult on the film adaptation. HiddenLight Productions, the company Clinton founded with her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, will produce, as will Madison Wells’ Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane.

“I have been a fan of this genre of literature my whole life and once I got my hands on this book, I couldn’t put it down. We rarely have the opportunity to see women as the main characters in a complex international thriller like this,” said Pritzker. “I have been fortunate to have worked with amazing people to tell important stories. However, to be able to partner with these two accomplished and exemplary women to adapt this compelling story they created together is a career highlight.”

“Just when I thought co-writing ‘State of Terror’ with my amazing friend Hillary could not get more exhilarating, along comes the remarkable opportunity to work with Gigi and Rachel at Madison Wells. Talk about badass women!” added Penny, whose other work includes the “Three Pines” and “Armand Gamache” series. “Together we promise to create a production that will entertain, thrill, give pause for thought and perhaps even laughter, move the viewers, and break boundaries. Onward!”

Clinton commented, “I am thrilled that my production company, HiddenLight, and I will be working with Madison Wells on this project. It’s particularly exciting to be collaborating with such a talented team of women and we couldn’t be more excited to see this story come to life.”

As a producer, Clinton has developed a TV drama about women’s suffrage and a docuseries based on “The Book of Gutsy Women,” which she wrote with her daughter. She is the subject of Nanette Burstein’s Hulu docuseries “Hillary”; has appeared as herself in projects such as “Broad City” and “Madam Secretary”; and was recently portrayed by Edie Falco in “Impeachment: American Crime Story.”