Rebecca Miller’s upcoming biographical drama Moonsong: A Life in Seven Verses has expanded its ensemble cast, bringing together several acclaimed actors alongside its previously announced leads Elle Fanning and Julianne Moore. Josh Hartnett, Emma Thompson, Sally Hawkins, Danny Huston, Robert Aramayo and Chloe Pirrie have joined the film, which will explore the life of celebrated children’s author Margaret Wise Brown, best known for writing Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. The casting announcement comes as The Veterans prepares to launch international sales at the American Film Market (AFM).
Fanning will portray Brown, while Moore is set to play poet Michael Strange. Hartnett will take on the role of socialite “Big Bill” Gaston. The characters to be played by Thompson, Hawkins, Huston, Aramayo and Pirrie have not yet been revealed. Set in 1930s New York, the film follows Brown as she discovers her talent for writing children’s stories and develops a new, sensory approach to children’s literature alongside a community of artists and educators.
Beyond her achievements as a writer, the story will explore Brown’s complicated personal life, including her passionate relationships with Gaston and Strange. Michael Strange was the pen name of poet and playwright Blanche Oelrichs. These relationships, described in the film’s synopsis as influential and destructive, form part of Brown’s journey towards finding her own artistic voice. Her books, which include Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny and Little Fur Family, have reportedly sold more than 300 million copies across over 25 languages.
Miller has described Brown as one of the most fascinating people she has encountered. In her statement, the filmmaker highlighted the author’s ability to retain a childlike perspective while becoming a major figure in publishing. She also spoke about Brown’s independent nature, emotional complexity and determination to protect her creative identity. Miller sees the character as someone who could resonate with younger audiences, particularly those seeking to live without compromising their individuality.
The film is written and directed by Miller, with its screenplay based on Leonard S. Marcus’s biography Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon. Moonsong: A Life in Seven Verses marks Miller’s ninth film. Her earlier directorial work includes Angela (1995), Personal Velocity (2002), The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005), The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009), Maggie’s Plan (2015), Arthur Miller: Writer (2017) and She Came to Me (2023).
Her most recent project was Mr. Scorsese, a five-part documentary series about filmmaker Martin Scorsese, released on Apple TV in 2025. The series received the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, alongside recognition from the Directors Guild of America and the Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Scorsese is also attached as an executive producer on Moonsong.
The creative team behind the film includes Oscar-nominated cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, known for The Lighthouse and Nosferatu, and Academy Award-winning special effects artist Neal Scanlan, whose credits include Project Hail Mary and the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Malgosia Turzanska, known for Hamnet, will serve as costume designer, while Kim Jennings will oversee production design.
The film will be produced by Round Films, with Miller and Damon Cardasis serving as producers. Amanda Goodwin, Keri Selig and Sasha Alexander brought Marcus’s book to the production company, while Scorsese will serve as executive producer. The Veterans will handle international sales outside the United States, presenting a sizzle reel and the screenplay to buyers at AFM. CAA Media Finance will represent the film’s US rights.
Production is scheduled to begin in May 2027. No release date or further casting details have been announced. With Fanning leading an ensemble that now includes Moore, Hartnett, Thompson, Hawkins, Huston, Aramayo and Pirrie, Moonsong: A Life in Seven Verses will bring the life and work of a writer whose stories continue to reach generations of readers to the screen.
