American Horror Story alum Emma Roberts is set to star in a new rom-com murder mystery. Based on the seven-book murder mystery romance series by author Michele Scott, the film will be directed by Ari Sandel, written by Legally Blonde‘s Karen McCullah, and produced by Vincent Newman. The romantic mystery will follow an actress who stumbles into solving a real-life murder.

As reported by ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Emma Roberts will lead A Murder Uncorked, based on Scott’s A Wine Lover’s Mystery book series. Roberts will play the struggling actress who, after losing her role on a TV detective show, goes back to her old waitressing gig and meets the owner of a prestigious winery who offers her a job in Napa Valley.

But, as she’s falling in love with Derek, a murder rocks the vineyard, and she finds herself trying to solve the case and protect the man she is falling for. A Murder Uncorked is set to begin production in 2026, while Sandel and Newman expressed their excitement to bring the books to life. Read their comments below:

Vincent Newman: 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: 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.

What This Means For The Murder Mystery Genre & Emma Roberts

By combining romance with murder mystery, A Murder Uncorked joins the growing trend of hybrid whodunits. Audiences have embraced тιтles like Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building, but this film differentiates itself by leaning more into the rom-com aspect. Its central theme of a struggling actress turned amateur sleuth while falling in love refreshes the formula of both genres.

Roberts’ filmography features projects like AHS and Scream Queens, which embrace dark and mysterious tones. However, the star has been stepping into more romantic roles, like Holidate and Maybe I Do. A Murder Uncorked seems like the perfect fit for Roberts’ abilities with comedy and romance, without losing the mysterious edge that has made a lot of her performances stand out.

The film could broaden the appeal of mystery flicks to a larger audience, made up of viewers who enjoy romantic comedies as much as plot-twisting intrigue, while offering Roberts a chance to become a defining face in this evolving space of hybrid-genre mysteries. And, working with McCullah connects Roberts to the same irreverent, empowering tone that made Legally Blonde ​​​​​​iconic.

Our Take On Emma Roberts’ Latest Move

A Murder Uncorked feels like a perfectly timed career choice. After Roberts built her reputation as an iconic horror and comedic lead, she’s stepping into a role that mixes the genres she’s most experienced with, tapping into every side of her screen persona.

Furthermore, the film’s rom-com murder mystery concept seems tailor-made for Emma Roberts, giving her a platform to showcase all her acting abilities in one project. With McCullah’s writing and Sandel’s rom-com portfolio that features The DUFF and When We First Met, A Murder Uncorked has all the ingredients to become a standout project.