Meriwether's Britney prep: deep cuts, audiobook, and a collaborative script process

Liz Meriwether, screenwriter for the upcoming Britney Spears biopic based on the memoir 'The Woman in Me,' has been preparing by listening to the audiobook narrated by Michelle Williams and revisiting Spears' music. She told The Hollywood Reporter that her current favorite tracks are the deep cuts 'Perfume' and 'If I'm Dancing.' Meriwether also noted she's enjoying the collaborative process with director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt, as she can focus solely on writing.

Meriwether’s preparation mirrors the memoir’s dual format—she has both read the hard copy and repeatedly listened to Michelle Williams’ audiobook, which set a record as Simon & Schuster’s fastest-selling audio title. Her listening habits also extend to period-appropriate music from Spears’ active years, not just the singer’s own catalog, to capture the era’s mood. She highlighted two late-career deep cuts, “Perfume” and “If I’m Dancing,” as current favorites. The project remains early-stage, with Universal yet to confirm details, but Meriwether’s collaboration with Jon M. Chu and Marc Platt—both key to the *Wicked* films—signals a team-oriented approach, a shift from her usual showrunner duties.