National bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove's novel My Best Year is taking a significant step toward the big screen, with a completed screenplay by veteran Hollywood screenwriter Barney Cohen and discussions now centering on casting and financing. The project, brokered by Allan Graffman and Rosebud Productions, has been in development with Cohen and The Ivan Group, and Ekkle, a faith-oriented film production company, has approved the screenplay and is involved in financing, casting, and production talks.
The story follows Paul and Julie Clampet, parents determined to give their autistic son, Toby, the senior year every teenager deserves. After Toby is expelled from high school, they find a struggling school in Indiana and rally its teachers and students to help create Toby's best year—complete with a winning touchdown, a place in the homecoming parade, and a date to the homecoming dance. The narrative, which is both funny and poignant, explores themes of family, acceptance, and adolescence.
Hazelgrove expressed his excitement about the adaptation, noting that the story is about parents refusing to let their son stand on the sidelines of life. The production team is currently evaluating various budget ranges depending on the talent attached, with casting discussions expected to influence the production's scope.
Hazelgrove is a national bestselling author known for his novels and narrative nonfiction, with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist. His work has been featured in major media outlets, and several of his books have been optioned or developed for film and television. He served as the Ernest Hemingway Writer-in-Residence, writing in the attic of Hemingway's birthplace in Oak Park, Illinois.
