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Listen to Taylor Swift's New Original Song for Where the Crawdads Sing

Photo credit: Michele K Short
Photo credit: Michele K Short


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The best-selling novel Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is finally coming to the big screen. Since its release, the critically and commercially acclaimed novel dominated the New York Times best-sellers list and became Amazon's most sold fiction book for all of 2019. The book was originally a Reese's Book Club pick in September 2018, and now Witherspoon herself has adapted the murder mystery. It's clear Owens's novel has a devoted audience, eagerly waiting to see the book brought to life on the big screen.

Here is everything we know so far about the Where the Crawdads Sing feature film.

What is the plot of the Crawdads movie?

Per Sony Pictures: "Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of Kya, an abandoned girl who raised herself to adulthood in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For years, rumors of the 'Marsh Girl' haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community. Drawn to two young men from town, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world; but when one of them is found dead, she is immediately cast by the community as the main suspect. As the case unfolds, the verdict as to what actually happened becomes increasingly unclear, threatening to reveal the many secrets that lay within the marsh."

Crawdads will hit theaters on July 15, 2022.

Sony Pictures announced a release date for the film for this summer, along with some first-look images, and a trailer (above) featuring a brand-new song from Taylor Swift.

In the trailer, Kya says, "Sometimes I feel so invisible, I wonder if I'm here at all."

Photo credit: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Photo credit: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Photo credit: Michele K Short
Photo credit: Michele K Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short
Photo credit: Michele K. Short

"Carolina" by Taylor Swift features in the trailer.

"Where The Crawdads Sing is a book I got absolutely lost in when I read it years ago," Swift wrote in an Instagram post. "As soon as I heard there was a film in the works starring the incredible @daisyedgarjones and produced by the brilliant @reesewitherspoon, I knew I wanted to be a part of it from the musical side. I wrote the song 'Carolina' alone and asked my friend @aarondessner to produce it. I wanted to create something haunting and ethereal to match this mesmerizing story."

The song was written by Swift and produced by Aaron Dessner, and it is her first new song since she dropped "This Love (Taylor's Version)" in early May, a re-recording of a track from 1989. Listen here:

The movie filmed in Louisiana in spring 2021.

On April 27, Sony Pictures shared a photo of a clapboard and a copy of the book with the caption, "And so it begins @CrawdadsMovie." Star Daisy Edgar-Jones shared a similar sneak peek on her Instagram stories. The movie will film throughout parts of Louisiana, including New Orleans.

Reese Witherspoon's production company, Hello Sunshine, is behind the new adaptation.

Photo credit: Frazer Harrison - Getty Images
Photo credit: Frazer Harrison - Getty Images

In addition to her time in front of the camera, Witherspoon has garnered much success with her company, Hello Sunshine. The media company focuses on telling stories that place women both behind-the-scenes and at the center of stories. Previous productions have included the movies Wild and Gone Girl, along with the television shows Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere.

Witherspoon is no stranger to the murder mystery genre, given her chilling work on Gone Girl and Big Little Lies. Crawdads will be different, however, as the story focuses on a younger narrator and a coming-of-age tale. Witherspoon called the film "one of those really exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities."

The movie is women-led.

Olivia Newman will direct the feature, her largest project to date. The director made her feature debut with First Match, a 2018 Netflix sports drama. She has also directed episodes of FBI, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD.

Writing the script is Lucy Alibar, who is best known for co-writing the 2012 film Beasts of the Southern Wild. That script earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. It's unclear how true-to-book this script will be, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, Newman will also have oversight on the storyline.

Daisy Edgar-Jones will star as Kya.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Photo credit: Courtesy of Sony Pictures

The star of the buzzy Hulu series, Normal People, will take on Crawdad's lead role, the "Marsh Girl" at the center of a murder investigation, set in 1969 North Carolina.

The rest of the cast includes Taylor John Smith (Sharp Objects) as Tate Walker, Harris Dickinson (The King’s Man) as Chase Andrews, Michael Hyatt (Snowfall) as Mabel, Sterling Macer, Jr. (Double Down) as Jumpin’, and David Strathairn (Nomadland) as Tom Milton.

Can't wait for the movie? Get ready by reading the novel.

The book was a best-seller for a reason. Get a head start on your movie preparation by reading Owens' critically acclaimed novel now. Trust us, you won't be able to put it down.

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