The Hollywood actress, who was born and grew up in Oxford, is known for her roles in 2019’s Little Women, 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling and 2023’s Oppenheimer.

Ms Pugh also starred in Midsommar back in 2019, as well as last year’s Dune: Part Two and We Live in Time with Andrew Garfield.

She is also known for playing Yelena Belova in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Black Widow, reprising her role in the Hawkeye series and Thunderbolts.

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Now, the Oscar-nominated Ms Pugh will lead and produce a film adaptation of the fantasy novel The Midnight Library.

She will play Nora Seed, a woman who finds herself in a mysterious library suspended between life and death, where she is given the chance to step into different versions of the lives she might have led.

Lion director Garth Davis is set to take the helm, according to Deadline, and author Mr Haig will serve as an executive producer on the film.

The Midnight Library was first published by Canongate in 2020 and has gone on to sell around 15 million copies worldwide, with translations into 56 languages.

“I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with Florence Pugh on The Midnight Library,” Mr Davis said.

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“Her warmth and talent are magical, and together I know we’ll do something special working with Matt’s iconic novel.

“This is a story that moves us both — a celebration of life in all its possibility and complexity.”

Mr Haig added: “I am so happy that Nora’s story is in such great hands, and that her myriad possibilities will be vividly reawakened by the absolutely perfect team.

“And I can’t wait for people to see my book reimagined for the big screen.”

Filming is set to begin at the start of 2027.

Liz Leffman took the leader job in May 2021 in a Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour Party coalition called the ‘Oxfordshire Fair Deal Alliance’.

Following the 2025 election, the Lib Dems had a 36-seat majority on the council as Ms Leffman continued her leadership.

Announcing her departure, she said: “It has been a huge privilege to serve as leader of the county council since 2021. I have very much enjoyed the role and the connections that I have been able to make with people all over the county, in all walks of life.

 “However, now is the time for me to stand down.

“In May 2027, we will be having elections for the new unitary council or councils, and as I will not be standing for election, it is right that I hand over the leadership in the run-up to these elections.

“I do intend to remain as a member of cabinet.

“I know that while welcoming new members the cabinet will continue to steer Oxfordshire through local government reorganisation, devolution and the financial challenges that are facing many councils.

“We will also want to re-dedicate ourselves to our priorities based around climate action and sustainable economic growth.”

The new cabinet for Oxfordshire County Council had been announced at the annual council meeting, hours before this resignation statement.

This followed Andrew Gant standing down from his transport chief role, yesterday, May 11, and the future economy and innovation boss, Ben Higgins, leaving his role as well as the Lib Dems.

A reshuffle looks likely to be on the way to make space for Ms Leffman to re-join the cabinet in a different role.

Reacting to the new, Independent Oxfordshire Alliance leader David Henwood said he thought the announcement should have been made ahead of the annual council meeting.

On Ms Leffman’s leadership, he reflected: “Although I have red lines in terms of transportation, Liz has been gracious in her approach to me as a new member.

“She has been the backbone of the Lib Dem group, but sadly her commitment to the workplace parking levy is evidence of predetermination.

“The Liberal Democrats are struggling to deliver policies to both the city and districts.”

The new leader for the council’s Liberal Democrat group is Tim Bearder, who previously stood to be police and crime commissioner in 2024.

There will be an extraordinary general meeting of the council to elect a new leader.

The date of this meeting has not yet been set.

In the interim, the current deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Neil Fawcett, will lead the authority.

Councillor Neil Fawcett. (Image: Vale of White Horse District Council.)

More than 80 Labour MPs have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign from office or set out a timetable for departure, following the loss of almost 1,500 local councillors across England in the recent local elections.

In addition, his party lost control of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) for the first time ever, had its worst performance ever in the Scottish election and there has been widespread dissatisfaction with the Government’s performance.

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After studying his undergraduate at the University of Leeds he earned a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree from St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, in 1986.

In 2022 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund Hall.

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Earlier today (Tuesday, May 12), the 63-year-old told his cabinet that the “Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered” and insisted he would continue governing.

Even so multiple ministers have resigned including Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh, with others reportedly urging him to consider his position.

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One of Sir Keir’s closest aides declined to say whether he would lead his party into the next general election.

Cabinet minister Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said: “I’m not going to get ahead of any decision the PM may or may not take.”

Among those rumoured as possible replacements for Sir Keir are Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner.