You've probably been waiting for the Small Great Things movie for what feels like a decade. Honestly, it practically has been. Ever since Jodi Picoult’s powerhouse novel hit the shelves in 2016, the buzz about a film version has been constant, then quiet, then loud again. It’s one of those projects that seems destined for the Oscars but keeps getting stuck in the gears of Hollywood's complex development machine.
If you read the book, you know why. It’s heavy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s exactly the kind of story that a studio wants to get "right," which often means a lot of delays.
The story centers on Ruth Jefferson, a delivery room nurse with over twenty years of experience. She’s a pro. But then, a white supremacist couple demands that she doesn't touch their newborn baby. When that baby goes into cardiac distress and Ruth is the only one there, she faces an impossible choice. Does she follow orders, or does she save the child? What follows is a courtroom drama that strips back the layers of systemic racism in a way that most mainstream media avoids.
The Powerhouse Cast Attached to the Small Great Things Movie
Let’s talk about the big names. This isn't some indie project struggling for funding. Back in 2017, it was announced that Viola Davis and Julia Roberts were attached to star. Think about that for a second. You have two of the most decorated, influential actresses of our generation signed on to the same project.
Viola Davis is slated to play Ruth. It’s perfect casting. Davis has this incredible ability to convey a universe of emotion without saying a single word, which is vital for a character like Ruth who spent much of her life trying to blend in and be "twice as good" to get half as far. Julia Roberts is reportedly set to play Kennedy McQuarrie, the white public defender who takes Ruth’s case but initially insists that the trial shouldn't be about race.
The chemistry—or rather, the friction—between these two characters is the engine of the story.
Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg’s production company, is the heavy hitter behind the curtain. Marc Platt, who worked on La La Land and Bridge of Spies, is producing. With that much institutional weight, you’d think the cameras would have started rolling years ago. So, what happened?
Why Development Has Been a Slow Burn
Hollywood moves fast until it doesn't.
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Scripts are usually the primary holdup. Adapting a Jodi Picoult novel is notoriously tricky because her books are built on multiple perspectives and internal monologues. In the book, we get the perspectives of Ruth, Kennedy, and Turk (the father of the baby). Capturing Turk's white supremacist worldview without making it feel like the movie is "both-sidesing" a hate movement is a delicate tightrope walk.
Basically, the writers have to ensure the film doesn't fall into the "White Savior" trope.
That's a huge concern in modern cinema. If the Small Great Things movie focuses too much on Kennedy’s "awakening" to her own privilege, it risks sidelining Ruth’s actual trauma and agency. Reports suggest that the script has undergone several iterations to ensure the balance is right. In 2019, it was confirmed that Camille A. Brown—the Tony-nominated choreographer and director—was brought on to direct. This was a massive move. It signaled that Amblin wanted a Black woman’s vision at the helm to handle the nuances of the African American experience depicted in the source material.
The Reality of Jodi Picoult Adaptations
Picoult fans are used to this. Some of her books become massive hits, like My Sister’s Keeper, while others languish in "development hell" for years.
Interestingly, My Sister's Keeper actually changed the ending of the book, which frustrated a lot of hardcore readers. With the Small Great Things movie, there is significant pressure to remain faithful to the gut-punch ending of the trial. If they soften the blow for a "feel-good" Hollywood moment, they lose the entire point of the narrative.
The world has also changed since 2016.
The social climate regarding racial justice has shifted significantly. A script written in 2017 might feel dated or insufficiently bold by 2026 standards. The producers are likely hyper-aware that the conversation around race has evolved from "colorblindness" to "anti-racism." Kennedy's character arch in the book is specifically about moving away from the idea that "not seeing color" is a good thing.
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What We Know About the Script and Direction
Camille A. Brown is known for her storytelling through movement, which might seem like an odd choice for a courtroom drama. But think about the setting: a hospital. The rhythmic, high-stakes environment of a Labor and Delivery ward. The physical tension of a woman who is told she cannot do her job because of the color of her skin.
It's about the body.
The script needs to bridge the gap between the sterile environment of the court and the visceral reality of the nursery. We know that the producers have been looking for a way to make the film feel urgent. It can’t just be a "period piece" set in the mid-2010s; it has to speak to the systemic issues that are still making headlines every single day.
Addressing the Controversies and High Stakes
Let’s be real: this movie will be controversial.
Any film that depicts white supremacy head-on is going to face pushback from multiple sides. Some will claim it's "too political." Others will worry it doesn't go far enough. The character of Turk is particularly difficult. In the book, Picoult based him on real interviews she conducted with former skinheads. It’s ugly stuff. Seeing that on screen is a different beast than reading it on a page.
But that’s exactly why the Small Great Things movie is necessary.
The book became a book club staple because it forced people to have conversations they usually avoid at the dinner table. If the movie manages to capture even 10% of that discomfort, it will have done its job.
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Current Status: Is It Actually Happening?
As of now, the project is still listed as "in development."
In the world of film, that can mean anything from "we're scouting locations" to "the actors' schedules haven't lined up in three years." Both Davis and Roberts are incredibly busy. Davis has been busy with the Hunger Games prequel and her own production company, JuVee Productions. Roberts has been doing a mix of high-end prestige TV and rom-coms.
Finding a four-month window where both stars and the director are free is a logistical nightmare.
However, the rights haven't lapsed. Amblin still owns this. That usually means they are waiting for the perfect "package" to greenlight the actual production. With the rise of streaming services looking for "prestige" content that can win awards, don't be surprised if this eventually lands a major theatrical release followed by a quick pivot to a platform like Netflix or Apple TV+.
How to Prepare for the Release
If you haven't read the book yet, do it now. Movies almost always have to trim the "fat" of a 400-page novel. There are side plots involving Ruth’s sister, Rachel, and the complex relationship Ruth has with her own mother’s history as a domestic worker that might not make the final cut.
Understanding that history makes the courtroom scenes much more impactful.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Track the Trade Publications: Keep an eye on Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Any official news about a "start of production" date will break there first, not on social media rumors.
- Revisit the Source Material: Read the 10th-anniversary editions (coming soon) which often include updated notes from Picoult about the adaptation process.
- Watch 'The Woman King' or 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom': If you want to see why Viola Davis is the only person who can play Ruth, watch her recent work. She has mastered the art of portraying women who are holding back a flood of justified rage.
- Support Original Stories: The reason movies like this take long to get made is that studios are scared of "risk." Showing interest in serious, adult-oriented dramas tells Hollywood there is a market for the Small Great Things movie.
The wait is frustrating, sure. But for a story this important, a rushed production would be a disaster. It’s better to have a masterpiece in 2027 than a mediocre "TV movie" version today. Keep the faith; the talent involved is too high-caliber for this to stay on the shelf forever.
Next Steps for Deep Context
To understand the legal hurdles presented in the story, research "The American Bar Association's" resources on how race-based peremptory challenges work in real-life jury selection. This is a pivotal part of the trial in the book and will likely be a centerpiece of the film's climax. Additionally, look into the real-life case of Tonya Battle, a Michigan nurse whose 2012 lawsuit against a hospital served as one of the inspirations for Picoult’s narrative. Knowing the reality behind the fiction makes the upcoming film feel even more urgent.