Sydney Sweeney to star in 'Sleepy Hollow' reimagination from novelist Lindsey Anderson Beer

• Lindsey Anderson Beer's debut novel Hollow was sold to Putnam in a preemptive deal
• Sydney Sweeney will star in and produce the feature film adaptation of Hollow
• The novel is a reimagination of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow through Katrina Van Tassel's perspective

A major new package is set to hit the market later this week, and it is already expected to generate considerable excitement across the studio landscape.

Filmmaker and screenwriter Lindsey Anderson Beer has sold her debut novel, Hollow, to Putnam — an imprint of Penguin Random House — and is now moving to adapt the book into a feature film with Sydney Sweeney set to lead the cast.

The creative team behind Hollow

Beer is attached to both direct and write the screenplay adaptation. LuckyChap will serve as producer alongside Beer, who will produce through her Lab Brew banner, and Sweeney, who will produce via her newly established Honey Trap banner.

Notably, this will mark the first official production from Honey Trap following the company's public launch, which Deadline reported yesterday.

Putnam makes a preemptive move

On the publishing side, Putnam — which has a stronger track record for launching bestsellers than any other publishing house — moved swiftly to secure the novel through a significant preemptive acquisition, pulling it off the market before it could proceed to auction.

According to sources, the novel attracted considerable competition across the industry almost immediately upon submission.

A gothic reimagination of a literary classic

Hollow is a bold reimagination of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, retold through the perspective of Katrina Van Tassel.

Rather than casting Van Tassel as a romantic prize, the novel repositions her as the central figure at the heart of a dangerous mystery and a seductive supernatural love triangle.

The story weaves together gothic atmosphere, psychological intrigue, and erotic thriller elements into a contemporary, high-concept reinvention of the original classic.

Sweeney is set to portray Van Tassel in the film adaptation. The novel has been fast-tracked for publication and is scheduled for release in autumn 2027, timed to coincide with the development of the feature film.

Industry interest builds rapidly

The book swiftly appeared on studio book scout lists, and the film adaptation has already attracted notable interest ahead of formal reads.

The material is said to align closely with the mandates and creative visions of all parties involved, which led Sweeney, Honey Trap and LuckyChap to commit to the project in unusually quick succession.

Sweeney is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Paradigm. Beer is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and WME. LuckyChap is represented by CAA and Entertainment 360.