Inside Millie Bobby Brown's debut novel as Netflix adaptation is confirmed (2024)

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Millie Bobby Brown, the star of Stranger Things, is set to see her debut novel transformed into a Netflix film. The young actress published Nineteen Steps last year, a book inspired by tales from her grandmother's life.

The story centres around a teenager in 1940s Britain, trying to navigate through the trials of adolescence and the realities of war as the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster takes place. Brown, who portrays Eleven in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things, is rumoured to not only star in the film adaptation but also produce it, as reported by Deadline.

Anthony McCarten, renowned for his work on The Theory of Everything and Bohemian Rhapsody, is believed to be penning the script.

Brown had previously expressed her intention to adapt the novel through her production company, PCMA, stating: "Yes, definitely [I would adapt it]. That was the intention behind it. Naturally, I just want to create more, so, yes, this is a great foundation."

She added: "My nan told me the stories when I couldn't sleep at night and I think, for a while, and maybe until I was eight, I didn't think they were real. Then I slowly realised that these were things that happened to her in her childhood, during World War Two."

Undated TV still handout from Stranger Things - Season 4. Pictured: Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven. PA Feature SHOWBIZ Download Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Netflix. All Rights Reserved. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Download Reviews. (Image: Netflix)

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Although Millie's book was ghostwritten by author Kathleen McGurl, her name does not appear on the cover. This sparked a debate about celebrities partnering with other writers to create fiction books, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Read on for more details about the plot of Nineteen Steps.

What is Nineteen Steps about?

The book's official blurb entices with a tale of love amidst the turmoil of war: "Love blooms in the darkest days. London, 1942. Despite the raging war, spirited eighteen-year-old Nellie Morris lives a quiet life in the tight-knit East End community of Bethnal Green.

"Her family and friends all tease that she will marry air raid warden Billy, the boy next door who's always been sweet on her."

Millie Bobbie Brown in a pink dress on a Netflix event red carpet (Image: Matt Winkelmeyer/FilmMagic)

Yet, it continues to reveal that Nellie's heart is torn upon meeting a charming American airman: "Although the arrival of Ray, a handsome American airman stationed nearby, causes Nellie to question everything she thought she knew about her future. But Nellie's newfound happiness is short-lived when a tragic accident occurs during an air raid. Even the closest family can't escape the devastation of war, and as the secrets and truth about that fateful night become clear, they threaten to tear Nellie and those dearest to her apart."

Currently, the novel holds a respectable 3.7 rating out of five on Goodreads. One enamored reader awarded it a full five stars, sharing with enthusiasm: "This was an extremely impactful read that flowed easily. Immediately lost amongst the pages, I saw post Blitz East End London through Nellie's eyes. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time to come."

Another offered four stars, expressing their approval: "I personally really liked it. I know this is a hot take but I don't think it's bad to have a ghostwriter, and the fact that Millie even thanked her in the acknowledgments? Most of the time a ghostwriter isn't even mentioned, it's kept a secret."

Actress Millie Bobby Brown (Image: Vanity Fair/YouTube)

In other news, the production for the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things is now underway.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has already revealed that enthusiasts can expect the grand finale of Stranger Things to hit their screens in 2025, although a specific release date remains on hold.

The cameras started rolling on January 8, 2024, following a postponement caused by the labour disagreements in Hollywood the previous year.

Star Maya Hawke, known for her role as Robin Buckley, teased fans with the promise that the final chapter will unfold over "basically eight movies" featuring "very long" episodes.