Nancy Drew Remake Project Shelved Due to International Rights Issues

A proposal for a book and potential TV series featuring an adult Nancy Drew was presented three months ago, around January 2026, by talent agencies CAA and Verve. The concept portrayed the character as a divorced mother living in Brooklyn, dealing with personal challenges rather than solving crimes initially.

The writers met with various industry figures over 12 weeks, generating competitive interest. Interest came from individuals including Steven Spielberg, Amy Adams, and Aubrey Plaza. Fox Searchlight offered a deal, while Amblin and A24 discussed a partnership.

The story included elements like a high school friend reappearing and a mystery involving a deceased ex-husband.

The competition narrowed to packages involving Aubrey Plaza with producer Cathy Schulman and Amy Adams with Steven Spielberg. Spielberg's group withdrew late in the process. A CAA agent attempted to secure a worldwide rights deal with A24, but issues arose with international copyrights.

The original Nancy Drew books by Mildred Wirt Benson, under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, entered the public domain in the U.S. on January 1, 2026. However, the proposal noted ambiguity in other countries, with a lawyer clearing some markets tentatively.

The source reported that rights did not clear fully, leading to the project's halt.

and Future Possibilities Nancy Drew

has been adapted before, including a 2007 film starring Emma Roberts and a CW series. One party stated the project is now defunct, while another suggested a deal with A24 could proceed if rights become available. The incident highlighted challenges in adapting public domain works internationally.

“Our lawyer reports that European markets consider books written pseudonymously to be in the public domain at 70 years after publication, which puts us well in the clear. He tentatively cleared Canada and Brazil, as well.”