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EXCLUSIVE: Who says blogging is a dead-end existence?
Columbia Pictures has made a deal to develop The Pioneer Woman, a romantic comedy that’s being shaped as a potential star vehicle for Reese Witherspoon. The studio has acquired rights to thepioneerwoman.com, a blog by Ree Drummond that details how a detour on a trip from L.A. to Chicago led her to Oklahoma. There, she met the cowboy of her dreams and transformed from spoiled city girl to domestic ranch wife.
Laura Ziskin and Pam Williams will produce. Drummond wrote a bestselling cookbook, and has turned her homespun tales into Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, a book that will be published by William Morrow next Valentine’s Day. That’s part of the rights package.
Drummond has a large following for a blog she writes from the cattle ranch that covers everything from cooking to tips on home schooling. The film will explore the fantasy of trading big city living for a wholesome simpler life. Rights to the book are part of the deal brokered by UTA and LJK Literary Management.
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It’s not just Sweet Home Alabama, it’s Sweet Home Alabama meets Julie and Julia because of the blog and cook book twist. Those Development Execs are smart. Forget about theatre and fiction, everyone knows basing a movie on a blog and a cookbook is box office gold.
I read the blog. It’s quite entertaining. Reese is completely wrong for the part. The real Pioneer Woman is less of a delicate girly girl and more of a Lauren Graham/Sandra Bullock type but good for her for selling her story. Does anyone want to buy my story. It’s about an blonde Valley girl who goes to an East Coast law school and finds herself being ridiculed for her pastel wardrobe and over use of the phrase, “It’s like, you know.”
Tina Fey.
@debbie – Resse Witherspoon did that movie already too, it’s called – “Legally Blonde.” Done and done.
Oh so you got the joke.
folks…it’s truly time we found a way to finance and shoot our own films. and i am not saying this sarcastically.
Does Reese remember that she won an Oscar?
Does nobody on this comments page actually read each others comments, all rushing to give their own opinion?
I’m now certain this film has some similar themes to Sweet Home Alabama, thanks to all twenty of you who pointed it out. Cheers.
Comments are moderated on this blog so ten or twelve are generally released simultaneously. They all think they’re independently clever.
I love that blog; the author has a great story and her writing is fun and fresh. But cutesy romantic comedy is not the way to go with it. I hope I’m wrong and they can do something better with it, but I have my doubts.
It will be a huge hit. Ree + Reece = FABULOUS
Reese hasn’t had a hit since 2005 and hasn’t had two hits since 2002.
Sounds like a really original idea. I’m there.
Signed,
Me in 1998
I hope the movie can rise above the source material. Also, it helps that the Pioneer Woman married a cattle baron–even before the success of the blog the Drummonds were millionaires.
Well said!
Every studio has at least 2-3 romantic comedy projects that Reese is “attached” to. It’s meaningless fluffery. This one sounds desperate. She’s already turned the Betty Davis corner as an actress.
Congrats Ree!! I can not wait!
It’s not the same as Sweet Home Alabama. She was already married to some country hick in that movie. And this one is about a true story, based around a blog. It’s kind of different. I’m sure they’re going to change elements to make it different from other movies. Give it a chance before you knock it. See it when it comes out, then if you still don’t like it.. tell us!
Ree’s story is really entertaining and fun to read. I’m sure it will be a great romantic comedy. That being said, I didn’t say it would be an Oscar winner or a thought-provoking look at American life or anything like that. It’s a ROMANTIC COMEDY. And Reese Witherspoon loves those. I do agree that Lauren Graham would be way better because she pulls off the snarky, sarcastic humor well. Maybe Reese can too though. Don’t hate on Ree just because she didn’t have a “Precious” story that will, in your minds, be worthy of Reese’s awards. It’s her choice, y’all.
Ree is not flighty like many characters portrayed by Reese. And Reese is an actress, capable of playing many many parts and pulling out the levels of those parts. Reese, Ree, and the blog won’t be at fault if this movie is a do-over of other movies, the screenwriters will be. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels has been on the blog, released in chapter form, for a long time. It is well-written, touching, and great for a movie.
i’ve been a pioneer woman fan for quite some time. i can’t even imagine her blog made into a movie. so many different ways to go with it. i’ll be first in line to buy my tickets for sure!
doesn’t anyone at sony remember their fish out of water romantic comedy about city folk in the country that BOMBED? don’t tell me they didn’t hear about the Morgans either!
Now that’s funny!
A comment that will be about a hundred times funnier than anything in this future trainwreck of a movie.
I am a huge fan of the Pioneer Woman and cannot wait to have her story made into a movie. Different strokes for different folks. If you don’t want to see, don’t go. I for one will be first in line at the theater!
Holy crap. A movie, about a woman who was already well off, who married a tycoon. Wow, so inspiring. NOT.
Ree is not dainty and pretty like Reese, she’s red and freckled and mannish, who need bangs. BIG forehead.
@ Betsy: REEEEEER!!! What a catty comment. If you have read Ree’s blog you wouldn’t make those snotty comments. Sounds like you have some self esteem issues.
Wow, Betsy. You sound like a real winner! In addition to your description of Ree, I would add nice, funny, down to earth, generous, and a much better person than most people. Namely, you.
seriously??? somebody has some envy issues.
I never comment on this site but I just have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ree Drummond’s blog, bought her cookbook, will buy her romance novel and would definitely pay to see a movie based on her ranch life.
Ree is a very likable, NORMAL, down to earth American wife/mother/etc. There is a reason her blog is so huge and it ain’t because she’s incredibly gorgeous, thin, and lives in Los Angeles. No one wants to watch shit about twiggy LA brats except wannabe twiggy LA brats and teenagers. A story like Ree’s is one that has broad appeal.
I think Sandra Bullock would be a better choice but what do I know? I leave all that mumbo jumbo to you “industry professionals”.
I’ve been sick of this woman’s blog for about two years now. I don’t find the love story very compelling or even very original. And I really get sick of hearing how she homeschools her kids when she’s never home or if she is, she’s taking pictures of parsley.
Oh, and her cookbook is terrible. It’s a cookbook designed for begining cooks with so many mistakes that it’s worthless (although I do like the ranch dressing recipe).
Look, I am a man, and I don’t know anything about this blog lady’s “story,” but I can vouch for the recipes. Delicious. Maybe Sony is looking to get into the “Cast Iron Grilled Ribeye” business.
Gosh – the comments here are so much more vicious that at Ree’s place. I’m a little nervous…
For what it’s worth, I think people should actually read Ree’s story before they decide what is worthwhile and what is not. It’s not Sweet Home Alabama, that’s for sure.
My suggestions for lead roles: Nicole Kidman for PW and Daniel Craig for MM. Heh.
Have a great day, America!
BB
I’ve never been able to figure out the focus of that Pioneer Woman blog. It’s all over the place. If your interest is cooking you’ll find recipes which, for the most part, are re-hashed from the magazines found in any grocery check-out lane. That’s the primary reason I didn’t invest in her cookbook. And each recipe is accompanied by an inordinate amount of photos. Have you ever forgotten how to use a salt shaker? Check out this blog–there’ll be a photo to remind you.
If your interest is photography, you can certainly find photos ad nauseaum. She also posts about home schooling, life on an Oklahoma cattle ranch, gardening, etc. For her vegetarian fans, it’s a good thing she doesn’t photograph the fate of the cattle her husband raises. With her increased popularity, the multiple ads have become annoying.
And now Hollywood is going to make a movie about all this? The Hallmark Channel would be a more appropriate venue for this soap opera.
Hey anything Reese does turns to profit we all know this and I think she looks fantastic at anything she does. So I think this is a go too. She got the country accent for it anyway. I must admit Freeway made me laugh too!
Kick ass Reese!….Muah~~~~~~~
“Chilly”
Wow I can’t believe how many mean people are out there! Ree’s blog is such a great one. She never has anything mean to say and is always uplifting. Maybe all you jealous haters should go have a look at it…maybe you will become nice.