Reese Witherspoon acquires film rights to Dolly Parton novel
Dolly Parton's novel "Run, Rose Run," which she co-wrote with James Patterson, will be developed into a film by Reese Witherspoon's production company, Hello Sunshine. Credit: Composite: AP
With some support from her friend Reese Witherspoon, Dolly Parton is looking to be a movie star again.
Parton is teaming with Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine media company for an adaptation of the bestselling novel she co-wrote with James Patterson, “Run, Rose Run.” Published in early March, the Nashville, Tennessee-based book centers on a bond between an aspiring country singer and a retired country superstar, a character Parton has said during media interviews that she was anxious to play on film.
"James and I love Reese and look forward to working with her and her wonderful team,” Parton said in a statement Monday.
Witherspoon, who grew up in Nashville and won an Oscar for playing country great June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line,” said in a statement that Parton has long been one of her idols.
“Dolly Parton is not only an icon to me, but a true inspiration to women and girls everywhere,” Witherspoon said.
Parton has mostly acted in television in recent years, including a guest appearance on “Grace & Frankie," but in the 1980s and 1990s starred in such feature films as “9 to 5," “Steel Magnolias” and “Straight Talk.”
