EXCLUSIVE: Under its first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios, Premeditated Productions has launched development on Shield of Sparrows, a feature adaptation of the forthcoming romantasy novel by Devney Perry.
Derek Kolstad, architect of the action franchises John Wick and Nobody, is set to pen the script. Liz Pelletier, Publisher and CEO of Entangled Publishing, and Sherryl Clark, former President of Bad Robot (Cloverfield, The Gorge), are attached to produce under their newly launched Premeditated banner, with DOD Cayla Tyne overseeing development. Perry and Kolstad will exec produce.
Slated for release under Entangled Publishing’s Red Tower imprint on May 6, Shield of Sparrows is described as a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy, where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.
Early momentum around the book has been explosive. It launches with a six-figure initial print run and plentiful five-star reviews from early readers — mirroring the breakout trajectory of Red Tower’s global bestsellers Fourth Wing, which is being developed for TV at Amazon, and Iron Flame. Like those titles, Shield of Sparrows is poised to debut on the best-sellers list. The Amazon deal marks another high-stakes win for Red Tower Books and Premeditated, whose work continues to demonstrate the demand for fresh fantasy IP on the page and screen.
With his work on John Wick, a franchise so far dishing out four films, a female-driven spin-off and a limited series, Kolstad has built a world that continues to expand. The series is a continuing priority for Lionsgate, which releases spin-off Ballerina on June 6, on the heels of films that have grossed over $1B in total. New installments in development include a fifth chapter in the main series, an animated prequel, and a spin-off focused on Donnie Yen’s blind assassin, Caine.
Bob Odenkirk is back for Nobody 2 — the sequel to the hit pandemic-era action thriller penned by Kolstad and released by Universal — on August 15. Also known for projects like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Die Hart, Kolstad is repped by UTA, Circle Management, and Jennifer Levy at Behr Abramson Levy Johnson LLP.
A Wall Street Journal, USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Perry’s six-book romance series The Edens, set in her home state of Montana, is in TV development at CBS Studios. She is repped by IAG and The Seymour Agency.
Entangled and Premeditated are represented by IAG and Caitlin Dimotta of TroyGould, and Premeditated brokered the deal.
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