Washington DC

Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney is set to headline and serve as a producer on the upcoming film adaptation of The Custom of the Country, a renowned novel by acclaimed author Edith Wharton, according to a report by Variety.

The adaptation will be written and directed by Josie Rourke, who brings Wharton’s sharp social commentary to the screen through a modern cinematic lens. Sweeney will portray Undine Spragg, a determined young woman from the American Midwest who relentlessly pursues wealth, status and influence as she navigates the elite social circles of early 20th-century New York.

In an official description of the character, Undine is portrayed as a woman driven by striking beauty, boldness and unyielding ambition. Armed with confidence and an appetite for controversy, she challenges the rigid norms of high society while manoeuvring her way toward love, power and financial success, Variety reported.

Casting director Nina Gold is currently assembling the supporting cast, with production preparations already underway. Principal photography for the project is expected to commence shortly, signalling strong momentum behind the long-anticipated adaptation.

Rourke has described Undine Spragg as the “original dangerous woman” of American literature and said Sweeney’s casting felt almost predestined. She remarked that Sweeney embodies the character so completely that it appears as though Wharton envisioned her for the role more than a century ago.

Reflecting on the enduring relevance of the novel, Rourke noted that Undine’s journey continues to provoke admiration, frustration and fascination among readers. She described The Custom of the Country as Wharton’s definitive American novel, capturing a period of rapid economic and social transformation as Undine’s ambitions carry her across the United States and into Europe.

Rourke added that the novel’s themes remain strikingly contemporary, emphasising that while working on the screenplay, Sweeney remained central to her creative vision throughout the writing process.

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Notably, filmmaker Sofia Coppola had previously planned a limited series adaptation of the novel in 2020, with Florence Pugh attached to star. However, the project, which was in development at Apple, did not move forward, Variety reported.