Ella Beatty in Final Talks to Join Focus Features’ ‘The Bell Jar’ Adaptation, Deadline Reports

Ella Beatty, who is slated to star in Netflix’s forthcoming “Monster” installment centered on the alleged Massachusetts axe murderer Lizzie Borden, is in final talks to join Focus Features’ film adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar,” Deadline reported July 17 in an exclusive report. The casting discussions are described as late-stage, with Beatty’s potential role still not publicly specified.

Deadline’s report links Beatty’s possible “The Bell Jar” casting to an already-assembled creative and talent slate for the Focus Features project. The same Deadline piece says the film already has Billie Eilish and Carey Mulligan attached, and that Beatty’s inclusion would add another marquee actor to a high-profile literary adaptation.

On the “Monster” side, Deadline described Beatty as the star of the Netflix project, which it characterizes as a forthcoming installment dealing with the Lizzie Borden case. The wording in the report emphasizes the “alleged” nature of the historical allegations surrounding the Massachusetts axe murderer, rather than treating the events as adjudicated fact within the report.

The report does not identify which character Beatty would play in “The Bell Jar.” Focus Features representatives declined comment when asked for reaction to the report, Deadline said. Because the casting is described as “final talks,” any role assignment could still change before the parties formally confirm the agreement.

While Beatty’s involvement would place her in two major studio-and-streaming productions in close sequence, the reported projects also reflect a shared trend in contemporary film packaging: recognizable literary properties and widely publicized cultural names drawn from multiple entertainment sectors. In this case, “The Bell Jar” is described as Focus Features’ adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s classic novel, and Beatty’s potential casting would come alongside Billie Eilish and Carey Mulligan.

The “Monster” project, meanwhile, is positioned by Deadline as a Netflix production. That framing places Beatty within the platform’s ongoing slate of branded event content, which often relies on recognizable on-screen talent and built-in audience attention. Beatty’s reported move to “The Bell Jar” would extend that cross-platform visibility if confirmed.

As of Deadline’s reporting, Beatty’s participation in “The Bell Jar” remains unconfirmed, and the report offers no timeline for a decision or formal announcement beyond its description of “final talks.” Separate production updates from Focus Features and the “Monster” team would likely determine when Beatty’s casting is officially locked and when her character details, if any, are released.