HOLLYWOOD — The long-awaited film adaptation of Millie Bobby Brown’s bestselling debut novel, Nineteen Steps, has officially found its director. On Monday, April 20, 2026, Netflix confirmed that Academy Award-winner Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Misérables) has signed on to bring the World War II epic to life.
The project marks a significant creative collaboration between the Stranger Things star and the director, who is returning to the historical drama genre that earned him his Best Director Oscar in 2011.
A Personal Story of Survival
Released in 2023, Nineteen Steps is a historical romance deeply rooted in Brown’s own family history. The novel was inspired by the wartime experiences of her grandmother, Ruth, who survived one of the most tragic civilian disasters in British history.
- The Plot: Set in 1942, the story follows Nellie Morris, an 18-year-old living in the East London neighborhood of Bethnal Green. Amidst the terror of the Blitz and the challenges of rationing, Nellie falls for an American airman named Ray.
- The “Nineteen Steps”: The title refers to a real-life tragedy on March 3, 1943, where 173 people were killed in a crushing stampede at the Bethnal Green Tube station while seeking shelter during an air raid. The “nineteen steps” were the narrow staircase where the disaster occurred.
The “Prestige” Creative Team
Netflix is positioning Nineteen Steps as a major awards-season contender, assembling a high-profile team of Academy Award veterans:
- Director: Tom Hooper makes his return to feature films for the first time since 2019’s Cats. Hooper’s experience with WWII-era London (The King’s Speech) makes him a natural fit for the gritty, emotional atmosphere of the Blitz.
- Screenwriter: Four-time Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Theory of Everything) is adapting the script, ensuring the transition from page to screen maintains the novel’s emotional weight.
- Production: Brown will star in the leading role of Nellie Morris and produce the film under her PCMA banner, alongside her husband Jake Bongiovi.
The announcement has sparked significant buzz in the industry. For Millie Bobby Brown, this project further solidifies her status as a powerhouse producer and leading lady at Netflix following the conclusion of Stranger Things and the success of the Enola Holmes franchise.
For Tom Hooper, Nineteen Steps represents a chance to return to the prestige filmmaking that defined his early career. By tackling a grounded, heart-wrenching historical tragedy, Hooper aims to remind audiences of his skill in crafting intimate human stories against massive historical backdrops.
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