Quick summary
- Jacob Elordi has been set to star in a feature adaptation of “The Executioner’s Song” for United Artists.
- He will play convicted murderer Gary Gilmore and will also produce the film.
- The project was first reported by Deadline on 10 November 2026 and is based on Norman Mailer’s 1979 Pulitzer Prize-winning book.
- No director or screenwriter has been named yet, according to The Playlist.
Jacob Elordi has his next major screen role, and it is a dark one. The Australian actor is attached to star in and produce a new film version of “The Executioner’s Song” for United Artists, playing Gary Gilmore, the convicted murderer at the centre of Norman Mailer’s landmark book. Deadline broke the news on 10 November 2026, and the film outlet The Playlist and the tech and culture site Mezha.net have since reported the details.
What we know about the Jacob Elordi Executioner’s Song project
According to The Playlist, Elordi has been tapped to both star and produce for Scott Stuber and United Artists. Mezha.net reports that the producing team around Stuber includes Nick Nesbitt, Elordi’s manager Matt Vioral and producer Sherry Marsh, who will work alongside the actor.
Lawrence Schiller is also involved, according to Mezha.net. Schiller directed the 1982 screen version and conducted the interviews with Gilmore, his family and other key figures that formed the basis of Mailer’s book. He will serve as an executive producer on the new project.
That link to the original research is notable. The source material was built from first-hand conversations, and the person who gathered them is staying attached to the retelling.
The story behind the book
Mailer’s novel was published in 1979 and won the Pulitzer Prize. It is a true-life account of Gilmore, who was tried and convicted of killing two men in Utah and then insisted on being executed for his crimes.
Deadline’s synopsis, quoted by The Playlist, describes the legal fight that followed: attorneys battled a system intent on keeping him alive long after it had sentenced him to death. Gilmore became a national media sensation. He was also the first person executed in the United States after a four-year de facto moratorium on capital punishment.
That historical marker explains why the book has endured. It is a crime story, but also a record of a country arguing with itself about the death penalty.
Where Elordi’s career stands
Elordi arrives at this project in a strong position. The Playlist notes he is coming off a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his work in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein”. It also lists Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic film “The Dog Stars” among his recent work, and says he wrapped the final season of HBO’s “Euphoria” earlier this year.
His next confirmed job is also reported. Filmmaker Ari Aster has cast him opposite Scarlett Johansson and Jude Law in the A24 project “Scapegoat”, per The Playlist.
Taking a producer credit on a film like this suggests he wants a say in how a difficult true story is told. That reading is ours, not something he has said publicly. Neither report quotes Elordi or United Artists on the project.
What happens next
The key open questions are who will direct and who will write the script. The Playlist says neither has been named, and it expects strong interest from filmmakers given Elordi’s attachment. No start date, shooting location or release window has been announced.
Readers who want more on the actor can find our coverage on the Jacob Elordi tag page, and more casting news in our Movies section.
Frequently asked questions
Who will Jacob Elordi play in The Executioner’s Song?
He will play Gary Gilmore, the convicted murderer whose story is told in Norman Mailer’s 1979 book. He will also produce the film.
Who is making the film?
United Artists, with Scott Stuber producing. Mezha.net lists Nick Nesbitt, Matt Vioral and Sherry Marsh as fellow producers, with Lawrence Schiller as executive producer.
Who is directing The Executioner’s Song?
That has not been announced. According to The Playlist, no director or screenwriter is attached yet.
Is Jacob Elordi an Oscar nominee?
Yes. The Playlist reports he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein”.
