Latest Acquisitions & Adaptations
By Alice Warburton, Georgie Cutler and Eva Lee
Acquisition News
Virago Acquire Exclusive Authorised Ursula Le Guin Biography
Virago publishers have bought the rights to the only authorised biography of the author Le Guin, who is most famous for writing The Earthsea Series, alongside countless other novels, essays and poems. Rights were acquired from Will Francis at Janklow and Nesbit, by Editorial Director Rose Tomaszewka. The book will be written by Julie Phillips and released in 2026. Phillips commented that “Le Guin may be the most original and far-sighted of American authors…I can only hope to tell a story as full of brilliance, warmth, wisdom, and surprise as its subject.”
Harper Voyager Snatch More from Tan
Harper Voyager have managed to acquire rights to two more books by Sue Lynn Tan. Tan is most famous for her debut fantasy novel, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which was inspired by the legend of the Chinese Moon Goddess. The two new novels will also focus on retelling mythology, with a standalone novel focusing specifically on the Chinese Legend of the White Snake. Rights were bought by Mateos and Pomericvo, commissioning and US executive editor, from Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literacy Agency. Both novels will publish later than Summer 2023.
HCCB Scoop Adiche’s Picture Book Debut
Harper Collins Children’s Books have acquired rights to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s new picture book, Mama’s Sleeping Scarf. Adichie is writing under the name Nwa Grace James, with Joelle Avelino as the illustrator. UK and Commonwealth rights were bought by Murtaugh and Lake, Executive Publisher and Publisher of Fiction and Author Brands, from Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency. It follows the story of “an ordinary day in Lagos, following a young girl called Chino as she plays with her mama’s scarf, spots her grandfather on his walk and winds down to go to sleep.” The picture book will publish in Autumn 2023.
From Book to Screen: What to Watch?
Sofia Alvarez set to direct Along for The Ride
Teenage romcom Along for the Ride, written by Sarah Dessen, is to get a live adaptation. Based on the novel of the same name, the film is set to be released on Netflix with Sofia Alvarez – who worked on the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series – serving as the director and screenplay writer for the film. The leading cast is set to star Emma Pasarow, Belmont Cameli, Kate Bosworth, Andie MacDowell and Dermot Mulroney. It will follow the story of Auden (Pasarow), who decides to spend the summer with her father’s new family. This is where she meets Eli (Cameli) and they experience a new life together. The film will be released on 22 April 2022.
Heartstopper comes to Netflix
We’ve met the cast and have finally had the teaser trailer so we’re getting ever so close to the release of Heartstopper on Netflix. Based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Alice Oseman, Heartstopper follows the love story of two British teens, Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring. Oseman also wrote the screenplay for the adaptation. After an audition process which saw over ten thousand applicants, Kit Connor was cast as Nick, with news of Joe Locke playing Charlie’s role released later. Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Kizzy Edgell, Corinna Brown, Rhea Norwood Cormac Hyde-Corrin, Tobie Donovan and Sebastian Croft complete the ensemble. It’s been a long time since the first volume of the web comic came out back in 2016, but we can’t wait for this LGBTQ+ drama to come to our screens. You can watch Heartstopper on Netflix on 22 April 2022.
From Book to Screen: In the Works
Red, White and Royal Blue Coming Soon
Amazon Studios has claimed rights for the film adaptation to Red, White and Royal Blue written by Casey McQuiston. The LGBTQ+ romance novel released in 2019 was featured on the New York Times bestseller list which received favourable responses. The film is set to be directed by Matthew Lopez with no information on the casting so far. It follows the romantic love story of Alex, the first son of the United States President, and Henry, the Prince of England, where they face international duties for their nations and social barriers. The film is expected to release sometime in 2023.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to be adapted by Liz Tigelaar
Netflix has tasked Liz Tigelaar, the creator of Little Fires Everywhere, to adapt Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The adaptation will come in the form of a feature-length film. The novel spent fifty-four weeks topping the New York Times bestseller paperback list and was recently viral on BookTok. The novel follows the fictional actress Evelyn Hugo, an old Hollywood star, reflecting on her life and sharing some secrets in an interview with a journalist, Monique Grant. Production is set with Brad Mendelsohn for Circle of Confusion and Liza Chasin for 3Dot Productions. There is no release date set but we are excited to see what comes of the collaboration.