John Proctor Is the Villain (film)

John Proctor Is the Villain
Written by	Kimberly Belflower
Screenplay by	Kimberly Belflower
Based on	Kimberly Belflower's John Proctor Is the Villain
Produced by	Tina Fey Marc Platt
Starring	Sadie Sink
Production companies	Universal Pictures Little Stranger Marc Platt Productions
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Country	United States
Language	English

John Proctor Is the Villain is an upcoming American drama film in development at Universal Pictures. It is an adaptation of the stage play of the same name by Kimberly Belflower. The film is being produced by Tina Fey, Marc Platt, and Universal Pictures. Belflower is adapting the screenplay from her own play. ^[1] Sadie Sink is attached to star in the lead role, reprising her performance from the Broadway production. ^[2] She is also credited as an executive producer. ^[3]

Premise

A group of high school students in rural Georgia studying Arthur Miller's The Crucible while confronting their own questions about gender, power, and accountability during a local scandal. The story explores themes related to the #MeToo movement, teen identity, and institutional trust. ^{[4] [5]}

Cast

• Sadie Sink as Shelby Holcomb

(No further casting announced as of November 2025.)

Background & Development

The original stage play premiered in 2018 and received wider recognition after productions at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston. ^{[6] [7]} The play made its Broadway debut in 2025 at the Booth Theatre, where it earned critical acclaim and multiple award nominations. It was nominated for 7 Tony Awards, the most of any play that season, but didn't win any. ^[8] Sadie Sink portrayed the lead character, Shelby Holcomb, on Broadway and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Play. ^[9]

Following the Broadway run, Universal Pictures acquired the film rights. The project was announced in July 2025 with Fey, Platt, and Belflower attached, along with Sink as an executive producer. In November 2025, Sink was announced to be reprising her role in the adaptation. Fey's company Little Stranger, Inc is producing alongside Platt's production company Marc Platt Productions. Eric Gurian, Adam Siegel, and Jared LeBoff are also attached to produce. ^[10] It was announced that Belflower would adapt the script herself.

A director has not yet been announced. The film is currently in the development stage. No release date has been set. ^[2]

References

1. Sharpe, Josh. "JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN Movie in Development; Sadie Sink to Executive Produce". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
2. Culwell-Block, Tran, Logan, Diep (November 25, 2025). "Sadie Sink Will Star in John Proctor is the Villain On Screen". Playbill. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
3. Sharpe, Josh. "Sadie Sink Confirmed to Star in JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN Film". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
4. "Studio Theatre | John Proctor is the Villain: Kimberly Belflower on the Origins of John Proctor". www.studiotheatre.org. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
5. Russo, Gillian (2025-05-27). "Kimberly Belflower gives voice to small-town girlhood in 'John Proctor Is the Villain'". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
6. Ashby, Bob (2022-05-05). "'John Proctor Is the Villain' at Studio is provocative and gripping". DC Theater Arts. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
7. "John Proctor is the Villain". Boston Theatre Scene. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
8. "Which Nominated Shows Were Shut Out of the 2025 Tony Awards?". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-07-20. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
9. Huston, Caitlin (2025-05-29). "Sadie Sink on Her First Tony Nomination, Shaking Off 'Stranger Things' Expectations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
10. Galuppo, Mia (2025-07-18). "Tina Fey, Marc Platt Team for 'John Proctor Is the Villain' Movie at Universal (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-25.