Anne Hathaway Breaks Silence on ‘Yesteryear’ Film Amid Book Controversy

Anne Hathaway has spoken publicly about the upcoming film adaptation of Caro Claire Burke’s debut novel, “Yesteryear,” amid online debate surrounding the book.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the Aug. 9 premiere of “The End of Oak Street,” Hathaway said she read a draft of the novel about two years ago and immediately connected with it.

“I knew the intense feeling that I had for it,” Hathaway said, adding that she has enjoyed watching readers discover the book. “People are just loving it and I couldn’t be happier for Caro, what a triumph for her. And now we just have to do the movie justice.”

“Yesteryear,” published in April, follows Natalie, a tradwife influencer who suddenly finds herself living in the 19th century. The novel has become a New York Times bestseller while also drawing criticism and debate online.

Burke recently addressed speculation about Hathaway’s involvement in the book. In an Aug. 9 interview with The New Yorker, she said the film rights were negotiated separately from the book rights and that Hathaway had spoken with her about why she would be suited to play Natalie.

Hathaway and her production company, Somewhere Pictures, acquired the film rights in 2024. Hathaway is attached to star and produce the adaptation.

Burke said the film will not be a scene-by-scene version of the novel. Because much of “Yesteryear” is internal and focused on Natalie’s thoughts, she expects the filmmakers to make significant creative changes for the screen.

“I don’t think it can be a one-to-one,” Burke said, adding that creative liberties were an important part of the discussions with the filmmakers.