Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney is set to headline another major literary adaptation, following the success of The Housemaid. The actor will star in the upcoming film based on Edith Wharton’s classic 1913 novel The Custom of the Country, marking her second consecutive project adapted from a bestselling book.
The film will be directed by Josie Rourke, who has also written the screenplay. Rourke’s adaptation brings a modern lens to Wharton’s iconic novel, which remains one of the most influential works of American literature.
The Custom of the Country: Novel and Film Adaptation
In The Custom of the Country, Sydney Sweeney will portray Undine Spragg, an ambitious young woman from the American Midwest determined to climb New York City’s elite social ladder at the turn of the 20th century.
According to the official press release, Undine Spragg is “armed with beauty, daring hustle, sheer force of will, and unwavering ambition,” as she challenges entrenched privilege and societal norms in her pursuit of love, wealth, and power.
Speaking to Variety, director Josie Rourke described Undine as the “original dangerous woman,” calling Sweeney’s casting a perfect match. Rourke noted that it felt as though “Edith Wharton sat down a century ago and wrote the role for her.”
“Edith Wharton’s character has forever fascinated, seduced, and infuriated readers,” Rourke said. “The Custom of the Country was Wharton’s great American novel. Undine Spragg sweeps across America and Europe during a time of immense economic and social change. The book whistles with modernity, and as I wrote this adaptation, Sydney Sweeney lived in my head as this iconic character.”
A Project Long in Development
Josie Rourke is best known for her directorial debut Mary Queen of Scots, starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. Her background in both film and theatre brings renewed focus to Wharton’s sharp critique of ambition, class, and desire.
The novel had previously attracted interest from filmmaker Sofia Coppola, who planned an adaptation in 2020. However, in a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Coppola confirmed that her version of the project was no longer moving forward.
Sydney Sweeney’s Expanding Cinematic Journey
Sydney Sweeney is coming off the success of The Housemaid, directed by Paul Feig and co-starring Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. The film was adapted from Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel and further strengthened Sweeney’s position as a leading actor capable of carrying both commercial and prestige projects.
In addition to The Custom of the Country, Sweeney is set to return in the highly anticipated third season of HBO’s Euphoria, one of television’s most successful drama series.
With this latest announcement, Sweeney continues to build a career at the intersection of popular culture and literary cinema, taking on complex, character-driven roles rooted in classic storytelling.
