Full Breakdown
Warner Bros. to Adapt Alisha Fernandez Miranda’s Memoir “My What If Year”
6/19/2026, 2:02:52 AM
Warner Bros. Secures Film Rights to “My What If Year”
Warner Bros. announced an acquisition of the film rights to *My What If Year*, the memoir by Alisha Fernandez Miranda. The studio will develop the book into a feature film, with America Ferrera attached as producer. Screenwriter Heidi Schreck, known for the play *What the Constitution Means to Me*, will adapt the memoir into a screenplay. Connor DeSha will serve as executive producer through his and Ferrera’s Take Fountain, while Miranda will act as associate producer.
From Burnout to Reinvention: The Memoir’s Premise
Published in February 2023, *My What If Year* recounts Miranda’s decision, on the eve of her 40th birthday, to leave a demanding career and spend a year as an unpaid intern across multiple industries. During the COVID-19 pandemic she traveled between countries, exploring Broadway theatre, the London art scene, Scottish luxury hotels, and online fitness. The memoir reflects on professional burnout, mid-life reinvention, and evolving definitions of success.
Principal Contributors: Miranda, Ferrera, Schreck, and Take Fountain
Alisha Fernandez Miranda is the former CEO and current chair of I.G. Advisors, a social-impact intelligence agency serving clients such as the Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and UN Women. She also sits on the board of the nonprofit Poderistas, where she first collaborated with Ferrera. America Ferrera, an Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress known for *Barbie*, *Ugly Betty*, and recent projects like *The Lost Bus* and the animated *The Cat in the Hat* (voicing opposite Bill Hader), will produce under Take Fountain. Heidi Schreck, a Pulitzer-finalist playwright, recently signed on to adapt the memoir and is represented by Curate, UTA, and Schreck Rose Dapello.
Recognition and Accolades of the Source Material
*My What If Year* was named a Best New Book by People Magazine and The Boston Globe. Miranda’s earlier works include the USA Today bestseller *Someone’s Gotta Give* and the co-authored *50 Years: Kinloch Lodge*. The memoir’s critical reception contributed to Warner Bros.’ interest in adapting the narrative for a broader audience.
Official Statements and Production Plans
Warner Bros. confirmed the acquisition and highlighted Ferrera’s involvement as a key factor in moving the project forward. The studio indicated that Take Fountain will oversee development, with Schreck’s screenplay slated for the next production phase. No specific release date has been announced, but the partnership signals a commitment to bring the memoir’s themes of career transition and personal growth to the screen.
Critical Reception and Opposition
The sources do not report any public criticism or opposition to the adaptation. No dissenting viewpoints have been documented at this stage of development.
Future Outlook: Production Timeline and Related Projects
The adaptation is expected to enter pre-production later this year, with casting and filming schedules to be determined. Concurrently, Ferrera continues work on other Warner Bros. projects, including the animated *The Cat in the Hat* slated for release on November 6. Updates on the *My What If Year* film will follow as production milestones are reached.
