Danielle Deadwyler, Ella Beatty, Ike Barinholtz, Connor Storrie & More Confirmed For Focus Features’ ‘The Bell Jar’ As Production Wraps

Focus Features has wrapped production on its adaptation of the classic Sylvia Plath novel The Bell Jar, starring Billie Eilish and Carey Mulligan, confirming the supporting cast, which includes Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Dylan Hawco (Ice Cream Man), Lili Taylor (Daredevil: Born Again), Ella Beatty (Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story), Maggie Kuntz (Broadway’s John Proctor Is the Villain), Ike Barinholtz (The Studio), and Connor Storrie (Heated Rivalry).

We previously reported on Beatty being in final talks; Storrie had been heavily rumored as part of the cast.

The only novel penned by American writer and poet Plath, The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical work charting a young woman’s descent into mental illness and the burden of societal pressures. Originally published in 1963, the book paralleled Plath’s own experiences with depression; the writer tragically died by suicide just a month after the novel’s first UK publication. In the U.S., the book became an instant bestseller, and has since been translated into more than 40 languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide.

The Bell Jar marks 10-time Grammy winner Eilish’s feature acting debut. She plays the lead role of Esther Greenwood, with Mulligan as Mrs. Greenwood, Deadwyler as Dr. Nolan, Hawco as Buddy Willard, Taylor as Jay Cee, Beatty as Joan, Kuntz as Doreen, Barinholtz as Lenny, and Storrie as Marco.

Sarah Polley directs from her own adapted screenplay, in her first feature outing since winning the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Women Talking in 2023. The film is produced by Plan B, Studiocanal and Joy Coalition.

Polley is represented by WME, GGA, and Circle Management + Production; Eilish by WME, Sandbox Entertainment, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer; Mulligan by Julian Belfrage, CAA, and Jackoway Austen; Deadwyler by Paradigm, Play Management, and Ziffren Brittenham; Barinholtz by UTA, Artists First, and Jared Levine of Yorn, Levine, Barnes; Hawco by GGA, Gersh and Circle Management + Production; Taylor by Independent Artist Group, Untitled Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello; Beatty by Entertainment 360 and CAA; Kuntz by Verve and The Rozenzweig Group; and Storrie by CAA, Atlas Artists, and Yorn Levine.