Jenna Bush Hager has entered into a first-look production deal with Universal Studio Group, Variety reports, focused on optioning books for development. She indicates she is about to hire an executive “from the film and TV worlds” who “can really help create a company that stands by these missions” of finding new authors from diverse […]
Film/TV
UK Tries TV Show Search for Cookbook Author
Starting January 31, the UK’s Channel 4 will air a seven-episode TV series called The Great Cook Book Challenge with Jamie Oliver. Following a series of cooking challenges among 18 chefs, one winner will get a cookbook publishing deal with Penguin Michael Joseph. The publisher’s managing director Louisa Moore is head judge on the show. […]
Newsletter Touts Book Material for Development
Former THR books editor Andy Lewis is writing a weekly column for start-up The Ankler that touts some forthcoming releases still available for film/TV options. Called the Optionist, he writes, “Every Friday, I’ll present un-optioned material from books, magazines, news articles, podcasts, games and graphic novels that I think deserve a look. I will attempt […]
Sebold Film Adaptation Dropped
The Netflix adaptation of Alice Sebold’s memoir LUCKY lost its funding “months ago” and was dropped, Variety reports. Last week, Anthony J. Broadwater was exonerated of all charges after he was wrongly convicted of the rape depicted in the book and film. Former executive producer Timothy Mucciante, whose production company Red Badge Films was bankrolling the […]
Netflix to Launch Book Club
Netflix has announced the Netflix Book Club, highlighting titles that will be adapted to Netflix films and TV series. In a partnership with Starbucks, the club will launch a social media series, But Have You Read the Book?, to run on Netflix’s YouTube and Facebook channels. Uzo Aduba will be the inaugural host of the […]
Netflix Confirms Success of Book Streaming
At a conference earlier this week Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos revealed a small amount of viewer data, claiming the service is being “more transparent” with talent, while conceding that most of their data is “big black box.” But charts of the most popular series and films make one thing quite clear: The popularity of shows […]