It looks like John Waters‘ long-planned movie, Liarmouth, starring Aubrey Plaza, won’t be happening after all. The eccentric filmmaker recently referred to the project in the past tense, confirming that it will not make it to the screen.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, published on August 7, Waters gave an update on the highly anticipated adaptation of his debut novel, Liarmouth. When asked about his upcoming projects, the filmmaker shared, “I had Liarmouth, my novel, it was optioned.”
However, Waters said that he had to abandon the project due to a lack of funding. “I wrote the script, they loved it, Aubrey Plaza was going to star, but the budget was too expensive, so it didn’t happen,” he explained.
What else do we know about the Liarmouth movie with Aubrey Plaza?
Talks of John Waters adapting his debut novel, Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance, for the screen first surfaced in 2022, a few months after its publication. At the time, Deadline reported that Village Roadshow Pictures had optioned the book with Waters behind the camera. The project was supposed to be the filmmaker’s first directorial work since his 2004 satirical comedy, A Dirty Shame.
Waters had previously shared that he struggled to find funding for the adaptation, leaving the movie’s fate uncertain. The filmmaker had also confirmed Aubrey Plaza’s casting at the time. Then, in November 2024, the Houston Chronicle reported that the movie is no longer in development. Waters’ latest statement has further confirmed that the Liarmouth adaptation will never see the light of day.
While Liarmouth may not be happening, John Waters has teased more future projects. In the same interview, the director said, “I have another movie, a children’s Christmas animation called Fruitcake.”
He added, “Who knows, that’s fallen through a couple of times too. I have lots of books coming. I have more jobs than I’ve ever had in my life, so I’m not looking for a new one.”
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on ComingSoon.net
