Marissa Jo Cerar Developing “Drowning in Paper Flowers” Novel for TV With Jenna Bush Hager and Universal

Deadline reports that the author of “Black Cake” is adapting E.L. Westbury’s re-released novel for television, with Jenna Bush Hager and Ben Spector’s Thousand Voices and Universal Global Television involved in the project.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Marissa Jo Cerar is developing a television adaptation of E.L. Westbury’s novel “Drowning in Paper Flowers,” with the project set up at Universal Global Television and tied to media personalities Jenna Bush Hager and her production company Thousand Voices, Deadline reported on Aug. 19.

According to the report, Cerar, whose recent credits include “Black Cake,” will develop the adaptation for the screen. The announced project pairs the adaptation work with Thousand Voices, with Ben Spector associated with the producing team alongside Hager.

The novel at the center of the adaptation has been recently re-released, Deadline said. The story follows Ruby Powell, a middle-aged housewife in Dallas who appears to have it all, including wealth, beauty, and strong standing in her community.

Behind that public image, the report says the character’s life includes concealed troubles and escalating tensions that come into focus as the novel’s plot unfolds. Deadline described the premise as a contrast between outward perfection and what is happening beneath the surface.

Universal Global Television’s involvement places the project within the studio’s scripted television development pipeline, while Thousand Voices’ participation connects it to the company’s broader slate of book-to-screen and lifestyle-and-family oriented media projects, as characterized in the Deadline write-up.

While Deadline did not provide casting, release timing, or episode count, it identified the key creative and production organizations currently attached, including Cerar as the developer and Hager and Spector through Thousand Voices alongside Universal Global Television.

With television development underway, the next steps would typically include finalizing a writer’s room, confirm producing arrangements and network or platform partners, and completing the rights and adaptation approvals that follow when a re-released novel is brought back for scripted series development.

Why It Matters

Book-to-screen adaptations are a major driver of scripted television development, and this pairing brings a recently re-released title into a new production cycle.
The collaboration between Universal Global Television and Thousand Voices suggests a development effort aimed at broad audience appeal anchored in character-driven drama.
If the series moves forward, it would add to the continuing pipeline of adaptations from contemporary and rediscovered literary works for television.
The project’s focus on a community-facing character with a private life may shape how producers approach themes of reputation, secrecy, and domestic pressure in scripted storytelling.
The absence of dates and casting in the initial announcement indicates the project is in a development stage where creative and production details remain to be finalized.

Sources

Key Facts

Deadline reported Aug. 19 that Marissa Jo Cerar is developing a TV adaptation of E.L. Westbury’s “Drowning in Paper Flowers.”
The project is described as being developed with Jenna Bush Hager and Ben Spector of Thousand Voices, alongside Universal Global Television.
Deadline said the novel was recently re-released.
Deadline said the novel’s protagonist is Ruby Powell, a middle-aged housewife living in Dallas.
Deadline described Ruby Powell as outwardly appearing perfect, wealthy, beautiful, and respected in her community, with major issues hidden beneath that image.
Deadline did not report a premiere date, casting, or specific series format in its initial announcement.