Anne Hathaway discusses 'Yesteryear' film adaptation as author Caro Claire Burke addresses backlash

Anne Hathaway has spoken publicly about the upcoming Yesteryear film adaptation after author Caro Claire Burke addressed the online backlash surrounding her debut novel.

The Odyssey actress told The Hollywood Reporter that she read a “draft” of the book “two years ago” while attending the premiere of The End of Oak Street on August 9.

“I knew the intense feeling that I had for it, so it’s been really fun watching people discover it. I have friends writing me, they’re like ‘What, how?’” Hathaway said. “One of my friends wrote me and said, ‘I can’t remember the last time that I immediately re-read a book.’”

She added, “People are just loving it and I couldn’t be happier for Caro, what a triumph for her. And now we just have to do the movie justice.”

Yesteryear was published in April and has remained on The New York Times bestseller list. The novel follows Natalie, a tradwife influencer who wakes up in the 19th century.

Burke recently discussed the adaptation and the criticism surrounding the book in an interview with The New Yorker.

She confirmed that Hathaway and her production company, Somewhere Pictures, acquired the film rights and that Hathaway is attached to star and produce.

“We sold the rights to her after I went to auction for the book. We sold it in the U.S.A., and then sold it to the U.K., and then we did film rights,” Burke said.

She explained that Hathaway had discussed her vision for playing Natalie, while noting that the film will differ from the novel.

“This book is so interior, and to make a transition to film, it would have to become more exterior,” Burke said.

Burke also confirmed that she is an executive producer and has been involved in discussions with screenwriter Hannah Friedman about adapting the story.