Authors Brian McGreevy, Lee Shipman and Philipp Meyer production company El Jefe formed earlier this year — has landed a first-look development deal with Slingshot Media, which is backed by private equity firm TPG. The three are friends from the Michener Center at the University of Texas at Austin and their company “aims to develop TV projects with the goal of helping novelists make the transition to writing for TV.” They have optioned Meyer’s American Rust, and Wil S. Hylton’s Vanished. McGreevy’s book Hemlock Grove was already adapted for Netflix by McGreevy and Shipman, and the trio is also adapting […]
Film/TV
Sony Hires Doherty As Literary Development Executive
Sony Pictures has hired Ballantine Bantam Dell senior editor Ryan Doherty for the newly-created position of vp, literary development, based in Sony’s New York headquarters. Doherty will pursue “book-to-film-and-television opportunities for all content divisions across Sony Entertainment” and the hire is designed to “deepen and expand the studio’s efforts in these areas.” President of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group Doug Belgrad says in the announcement, “By bringing Ryan in to this new executive position in New York, we are strengthening our commitment to finding the highest quality and most commercial source material for each of our divisions. Ryan is a […]
Briefs: September Costco Pick; Amis Breaks with German, French Publishers; Maze Runner Movie
The September Pennie’s Pick at Costco is The Monogram Murders: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery, by Sophie Hannah. The Guardian reported that two of Martin Amis‘s longstanding international publishers — Hanser in Germany, and Gallimard in France — declined to publish his newest novel, The Zone of Interest, set in a fictionalized Auschwitz. Another German publisher has not been secured yet, but Calmann-Levy will publish the book in France in 2015. Editor Deborah Kaufmann says she is “delighted to be starting a long relationship with Martin Amis.” The Guardian notes, “He said that it was his understanding that Gallimard’s rejection was due to […]
Agreements: Curtis Brown UK Unit Pairs with BBC, and More
Cuba Pictures, the film and tv development arm of Curtis Brown UK, has a first-look deal with BBC Worldwide, which will “provide investment, co-production expertise, access to their market research and development initiatives in addition to their global marketing reach.” Cuba Pictures ceo Nick Marston says, “Our aim is to bring together writers, directors and literary material in unique collaborations to create some first-class television. This partnership with BBC Worldwide will hopefully ensure that our work will get the best global support and we look forward to working together on future upcoming projects.” The two have already been working together on a […]
Sharp’s New Film Company Bringing Gabaldon and Others to Screens
File this one under “interesting development we haven’t seen covered for publishing yet” rather than “news”: Open Road co-founder Jeff Sharp is now also ceo and president of film/TV production company Story Mining & Supply Co. It’s backed by chairman and executive producer Jim Kohlberg — the private equity master who is Open Road’s lead financier through Kohlberg Ventures and a board member of the ebook publisher. (Kohlberg has also been a film producer, writer and director for some time.) You’ll be hearing more about the company this summer when Starz is set to air their 16-episode series based on […]
Creamer to Leave Touchstone as Moldow Takes Over As Publisher, and More
Announced right after Lunch mailed yesterday, Touchstone publisher Stacy Creamer will leave the company on November 15 after more than four years at the imprint. Scribner Publishing Group president Susan Moldow said in the announcement that she will serve as publisher of Touchstone “until further notice,” adding: “I am looking forward to taking a more active role in the day-to-day operations of the imprint, and working closely with the top-notch group of editors and publishing professionals she has assembled as we look to build upon their success to date.” Moldow commended Creamer’s “sharp eye for talent, both on the page and […]