Mitch Albom has twice the things to celebrate about his latest novel, “Twice”: the Oct. 7 date when it hits stores and the news that the upcoming book will be made into a movie by Netflix.
“Twice” has been acquired by the streamer in what Variety calls a “competitive situation,” meaning that other Hollywood players were vying for the content. The book will be adapted and directed for Netflix by Paul Weitz, whose credits include the sensitive 2002 Hugh Grant dramedy “About a Boy,” the 2010 comedy “Little Fokkers” and the Amazon Prime Video series “Mozart in the Jungle,” for which he won a Golden Globe.”
Albom, the author, WJR-AM radio host and Free Press columnist whose books have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, focuses on second chances in “Twice.”
His official website describes the novel as “a stunning love story that dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.” The main character, Alfie Logan, possesses the power to undo any moment and do it over, with the provision that he must live with the consequences of his second try.
Alfie finds happiness with Gianna, the woman he thinks is the love of his life. But over the years, he is faced with temptation and “learns a lone caveat to his power: once he undoes a love, that person can never fall in love with him again. Knowing if he gives in to temptation, he will risk losing what he has with Gianna, Alfie makes a choice that changes his life forever.”
The narrative starts as an older, ailing Alfie is being questioned by a police detective after supposedly winning a fortune by cheating at a casino. As Alfie shares his memories, the cost of his magical ability is revealed, leading to a “most unlikely conclusion.”
“I was surprised and flattered that Netflix and others showed such interest in ‘Twice’ before it is even published,” said Albom via email. “I’ve had a chance to meet with Paul Weitz and his team and I think he’s the perfect person to bring this book to the screen. He has heart and humor and I can’t wait to see what he does with Alfie and Gianna’s love story.”
Albom’s bestsellers have been adapted for big and small screens four times. His landmark nonfiction book “Tuesdays With Morrie” was turned into a 1999 multiple Emmy-winning TV movie that featured Hank Azaria as Albom and Oscar winner Jack Lemmon as Albom’s wise dying professor.
The Hallmark Hall of Fame film based on Albom’s “Have a Little Faith” spent about five weeks in 2011 on location in and around Detroit at the Masonic Temple, Ford Field, the Temple Israel synagogue and the former Free Press offices on Fort Street in downtown Detroit (where “The West Wing” star Bradley Whitford, who played Albom, was filmed amidst the real-life work cubicles).
Other films from Albom’s books include 2004’s “Five People You Meet in Heaven,” the most-watched TV movie of that year at nearly 20 million viewers, and 2007’s “For One More Day,” which landed a Screen Actors Guild nomination for its star, Ellen Burstyn.
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture writer Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mitch Albom’s upcoming novel, ‘Twice,’ to become a Netflix movie
Reporting by Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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