Away in Budapest, Amazon Studios and Anonymous Content have begun principal photography on Birds of Paradise, a film based on author A.K. Small’s Bright Burning Stars. Written and directed by Sarah Adina Smith (Buster’s Mal Heart, “Hanna”), the film stars Kristine Froseth (The Assistant, Looking for Alaska) and Diana Silvers (Space Force, Booksmart).
Set at a prestigious ballet school in Paris, Birds of Paradise follows the new girl at school (Silvers) as she befriends a grieving dance prodigy (Froseth) as the two compete for the school’s ultimate prize and receive a contract to join the Parisian Opera’s ballet company. As the pressure mounts, their friendship is tested as they must each decide how far they’ll go to win.
Julie Rapport, Co-Head of Movies at Amazon Studios, said, “Sarah is a talented, visionary filmmaker who we’re so happy is part of the Amazon family, and we can’t wait to bring her next story to life with Birds of Paradise.” This isn’t Smith’s first team-up with the streaming service, as she is under a first look television deal via her company Everything is Everything and directed the pilot and second episode of the series adaptation of “Hanna”.
Published in 2019, Bright Burning Stars was a runaway hit in the young adult literature world and the debut novel from author A.K. Small. Just like the recent adaptations of Looking for Alaska and the upcoming film adaptation of Daisy Jones and the Six, fans of Bright Burning Stars are likely eagerly awaiting to see their beloved characters on Amazon’s upcoming adaptation.
