In 2009, Flannery O’Connor’s Complete Stories was named the best book ever to receive a National Book Award. It had been almost 50 years since O’Connor died at 39 years old of lupus, yet her work was still being read and publicly celebrated, chosen above such esteemed writers as Alice McDermott, Susan Sontag, Philip Roth, and so forth.

Now in 2024, a year before her centennial, a feature film is being released on Friday that focuses not only on O’Connor’s fiction but also on her life. Wildcat, directed and written by Ethan Hawke (co-written by Shelby Gaines) and starring Maya Hawke and Laura Linney, among others, has been piquing fans’ interests since the rumors about its production began a few years ago. Now the moment has arrived, and Wildcat will not disappoint O’Connor enthusiasts. However, I wonder how much of a following it will attract outside of those who already love the literary genius.