The 1984-1996 crime drama sensation Murder, She Wrote is getting the motion-picture treatment, courtesy of Universal Pictures’ Amy Pascal-produced Murder, She Wrote movie. The original Murder, She Wrote TV show starred Angela Lansbury in an era-defining role as Jessica Fletcher — the sleuthing murder-solving mystery novelist, as she unearthed foul play across the Maine town of Cabot Cove. Murder, She Wrote was a huge success and influenced almost every crime drama that’s followed since, with Lansbury receiving an Emmy nomination for every season.
Despite the lasting legacy of Murder, She Wrote and how much Lansbury’s Jessica Fletcher is entrenched in the history of fictional detectives, there’s been few attempts to reinvigorate the title (save for a canceled 2013 reboot). That all changed in 2023 when it was announced that Universal Pictures were forging ahead with the Murder, She Wrote movie. With Little Women and Spider-Man: Homecoming producer Amy Pascal attached to the project there’s already a great deal of speculation around what’s to come when Jessica Fletcher makes her big-screen debut.
The most recent Murder, She Wrote movie news came in September 2023 when Universal Pictures confirmed development had started on the project (via Variety). As part of the announcement, it was revealed that Amy Pascal was attached as producer, with Dumb Money writers Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo on board for the screenplay. Work had started on the Murder, She Wrote movie script before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes commenced, but no updates have been provided since the strikes were resolved. It can be assumed it is still being developed.
