![Actor Naomi Watts will play the role of Sydney mother Sam Bloom.](/content/dam/images/g/t/7/f/j/o/image.related.afrArticleLead.620x350.gt73cg.png/1481255730935.jpg)
Naomi Watts will star in a movie of Penguin Bloom, one of Australia's best-selling memoirs for 2016.
The illustrated book, by Sydney photographer Cameron Bloom and New York Times top-selling author Bradley Trevor Greive, tells the story of how an injured magpie chick called Penguin helped Bloom, his wife Sam and their three young sons cope with the aftermath of an accident in Thailand during a 2013 family holiday that left Sam paralysed.
According to Nielsen Bookscan, Penguin Bloom has sold 32,000 copies since its April release. It is published in Australia by HarperCollins.
The movie will be produced by Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea, Emma Cooper and Naomi Watts, who will also play the role of Sam. Shooting will start in 2018. Production will take place in Australia. No director or screenwriter are set yet.
![The illustrated book, by Sydney photographer Cameron Bloom and New York Times top-selling author Bradley Trevor Greive, ...](/content/dam/images/g/i/j/m/5/u/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1439464241650.jpg)
"It is just awesome," said Cameron Bloom. "We had lots of movie offers when the book came out, and as it became more successful and reached bigger audiences, the offers just kept getting better. Bradley is friendly with Emma Cooper in the US, and I had done some work for her here. Emma is very close to Naomi Watts, and she showed her the book – Naomi loved it."
How does Sam Bloom feel to have Naomi Watts playing her? "It's pretty cool. All I hope is that they keep it real and honest."
Watts was captivated by the life-affirming nature of Sam's story. "Sam's undeniable spirit and the intense physical and emotional journey she and her family embraced resonated with me both as a storyteller and as a mother," she said.
Witherspoon and Papandrea signed on to produce the moment Cooper sent them the book.
"Penguin Bloom affected me in so many ways," said Papandrea. "Every family will respond to this universal and heartwarming story of a family dealing with tragedy."
![Sam Bloom with Penguin. How does she feel to have Naomi Watts playing her? "It's pretty cool. All I hope is that they ...](/content/dam/images/g/i/j/m/3/4/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1439601643836.jpg)
Greive, author of best-selling The Blue Day Book, said Penguin Bloom was by far the most beautiful and moving book he had ever written. "I've never laughed and cried so much in my entire life – it has been an absolute honour to help share this extraordinary true story."
Ten per cent of the book's royalties will go towards leading spinal cure charities such as Wings for Life and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundations.
![Cam Bloom and Penguin... in a National Portrait Gallery of Australia exhibition, Popular Pets.](/content/dam/images/g/t/7/f/q/k/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1481240310343.jpg)