A Murder Uncorked: Everything we know so far about the upcoming rom-com murder mystery starring Emma Roberts

A Murder Uncorked is an upcoming rom-com murder mystery film based on author Michele Scott's book series, A Wine Lover's Mystery. The plot of the movie follows a struggling actress who moves to Napa Valley for an interesting job opportunity in a popular winery, only to get caught in a murder mystery plot.

Vincent Newman is producing this feature film with Ari Sandel directing and screenwriter Karen McCullah penning the script based on Michele Scott's book. Deadline reports that Emma Roberts will headline the film as a woman trying to solve the central mystery, and Contentious Media will handle the financing for the project.

A Murder Uncorked will be introduced at the TIFF film market at the forthcoming Toronto International Film Festival, with Luminosity Pictures handling the film's international sales. It is expected to hit the screens in 2026.

What's the plot of A Murder Uncorked?

Michele Scott's murder mystery tale will serve as an inspiration to this rom-com, starring Emma Roberts as an actress who must find a way to get her life back on track. Deadline reveals the film's plot synopsis, which reads:

"A struggling actress who loses her TV detective role and has to get her old waitressing gig back. It’s there that she meets the handsome Derek, owner of a prestigious winery, who offers her a dream job in beautiful Napa Valley."

It further says,

"But when a murder rocks the vineyard, she must crack the case, protect the man she’s falling for, and outwit Napa’s hilariously high-maintenance elite before her dream job and budding romance go up in smoke."

Based on the said premise, the film might appeal to true-crime aficionados just as much as it would to The White Lotus fans hoping to see a similarly witty story about a class clash.

What did the creators say about this upcoming movie?

World Premiere Of Sony Pictures' "Madame Web" - Arrivals - Source: Getty

The Emma Roberts starrer will be based on a book series, which means there's more than one story about the waitress/actress at the center of it all. That's why producer Vincent Newman shares a hopeful note about the movie. As per Deadline, his statement reads,

“Michele’s books are a hugely entertaining blend of romance, comedy, and mystery that are appealing to a worldwide audience of all ages. A Murder Uncorked is the first film in what we envision as a franchise."

Ari Sandel, who is directing A Murder Uncorked, also spoke about its exciting genre mash-up through his statement. He said,

“I couldn’t be more thrilled about the opportunity to work with Emma and to create this love letter to both Napa Valley wine country and the murder mystery genre while doing it with a comedic flair that makes this a fun and entertaining ride.”

Before this, Sandel worked on a couple of rom-com projects, including the 2018 Netflix film, When We First Met, starring Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario, and the 2015 film, The DUFF, starring Mae Whitman. His debut short, West Bank Story, a musical rom-com, earned him an Oscar.

Sandel will be working with a script by Karen McCullah, known for co-writing 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Legally Blonde (2001), and The Ugly Truth (2009).