Sofia Coppola Buys Rights to Alysia Abbott's Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father

Wow! Hold onto your hats! Today, American Zoetrope announced that it has bought the rights to Alysia Abbott's memoir about her childhood in San Francisco among poets, writers, and artists at the brink of the AIDS Crisis, Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father. Alysia Abbott's father, Steve Abbott, was a new narrative writer in San Francisco who took care of Alysia throughout her coming-of-age years. Steve Abbott died from AIDs later in Alysia's life. According to Entertainment:

Sofia Coppola does not take on just any old project. The Oscar-winning screenwriter has written and directed only five features in 14 years, and produced all but one. After her latest premiered this spring, it looked like she didn’t have any upcoming features in the works.

That changed Tuesday when American Zoetrope announced that it had acquired the rights to Alysia Abbott’s memoir Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father for Coppola to write and produce. Abbott’s memoir details her childhood with her single, gay father Steve, their life among artists and activists in San Francisco in the 1970s and ’80s, and the turmoil of the brewing AIDS crisis.

“I love the book Fairyland; it’s a sweet and unique love story of a girl and her dad, both growing up together in 1970s San Francisco. I think it will make an engaging and touching movie on a subject I’ve never seen before,” Coppola said in a statement.

Coppola won’t be on her own, though. Roman Coppola, her brother and frequent collaborator (he produced The Bling Ring and Somewhere) will also produce, and she’ll co-write the script with the photographer Andrew Durham. Noticeably absent from the release were any details on whether Coppola would take on directing duties. No decisions have been made at this point, but it would be a first for her to write and produce a feature that she doesn’t plan to direct.

“I’m delighted that Sofia Coppola and Zoetrope are going to create the film version of Fairyland,” added Abbott. “Sofia’s understanding of the feminine perspective and the artistic vision that she shares with Andrew Durham make them ideal partners to make this movie. I could not be happier.”

Well done, American Zoetrope and Alysia Abbott! Looking forward to seeing Alysia's story on the big screen.