Following the success of the film adaptation for R.J Palacio’s novel Wonder, which was released in 2017 and had a worldwide gross of $315 million, the author knew she was ready for what came next. And she took that dream directly to Lionsgate’s door.
“I had a meeting with Nathan Kahane, who was the head of Lionsgate, and showed him a few sketches I had started on for White Bird,” Palacio told PW. “I had a few pages, and he just fell in love with it. And he said, ‘Look, as soon as you have a finished book, please send it to me.’ And he made good on his word.”
Palacio’s graphic novel White Bird, a sequel of sorts to Wonder, was published in 2019 and five years later, the film adaptation is set to hit the big screen on October 4. The story follows the character of Julian, who first appears in Wonder as the bully to central protagonist Auggie Pullman. In this film, audiences are reintroduced to Julian and his grandmother, who shares her experience as a Holocaust survivor.
Producers Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman reunited on this project as producers, and Mark Bomback wrote the screenplay. Marc Forster, the director for projects such as The Kite Runner (2007) and Christopher Robin, serves as director.
“From the moment I met him, I thought, ‘Well, this is the man to do it,’ ” Palacio said of collaborating with Forster. “He just had this beautiful vision for the movie. I knew he would bring a real textured quality to it.”
As this was Palacio’s second time working on a film adaptation, she was no stranger to seeing big changes in her story. “We’re in this together, and I believe in [Marc], so I’m going to believe in his vision,” Palacio said.
The cast features Ariella Glaser as Sara Blum, Orlando Schwerdt as Julien Beaumier, and Bryce Gheisar as Julian Albans, with Gillian Anderson as Vivienne Beaumier and Helen Mirren as Grandmère.
In her role as producer, Palacio had a say in casting decisions and “takes credit” for bringing Gheisar back to reprise his role as Julian from the first film.
“I think that was incredible, first of all, because he’s a really gifted young actor,” Palacio said. “And I think he was chomping at the bit to be able to, if not exonerate Julian, redeem him, and he does it in such a beautiful way. It’s not an easy role to play the bully. And it’s not like Julian starts out as the most charismatic kid, but he really does a full circle. He awakens in this movie.”
In returning to Julian’s perspective, Palacio was ready to showcase a new side of the character that wasn’t able to be voiced in the first film. “I had thought back [to how] when I was writing Wonder that out of respect for Auggie, the main character, I didn’t want to give Julian a voice,” Palacio explained. “Having said that, as a writer, I knew what was propelling Julian, why he was the bully, and what was motivating him. I wanted to be able to tell Julian’s story, and that’s where White Bird comes in.”
White Bird also centers on the childhood experience of Grandmère, Julian’s grandmother, and follows her childhood experience through the Holocaust. “I’ve always been very respectful and mindful of the innocence of children,” Palacio said of portraying difficult subject matter. “But Marc and I were both mindful of not skimming over the horrors, but not dwelling too much on them either.”
Palacio envisions the adaptation as “a reminder for us to just see each other again.” That’s her hope for the movie, “which is really not political in any way, but does delve into the painful experiences of the past and is a call to see each other,” Palacio said. “And remember all human beings on this earth and find compromise and peace to live with one another.”
